With Halloween just around the corner....

Hi Bloggers
With halloween just around the corner, I thought I'd share some pictures of my last years Halloween party!  A great time was had by all and I throughly enjoy preparing the food!  So much fun!
Happy Stitching,
Lorraine

One of my Favorite Blocks!

This has always been one of my favorite blocks from Lydia's pattern Spring Garden Sampler!  I just love house blocks don't you?  

Vivacious Quarters

I love scrap quilts more than anything, so fat quarters work for me...even the ugly ones!  Slipping a little ugly with some of your favourites sometimes gives your quilt the sparkle it needs.  You've probably all seen this chart before but I still think it has some good value when it comes to figuring out if a fat quarter will work on a certain project.  

Fat quarter size 18" x 22" approximately yields 
99 ea 2 in squares OR
56 ea 2-1/2" squares OR
42 ea 3" squares OR
30 ea 3-1/2" squares OR
20 ea 4" squares OR
16 ea 4-1/2" squares OR
12 ea 5" squares OR
12 ea 5-1/2" squares OR
9 ea 9" squares OR
6 ea 6-1/2" squares OR
4 ea 8" squares OR
4 ea 9" squares

Already choosing a new project before the last one is done...ugh!

Do you do that?  I'm sooooo guilty!  I just love piecing and appliqué.  I even love machine quilting, but the process of getting it all together...prepping the three layers together seems to hold me back sometimes.  I guess it seems all about the space you need to do this, that's one excuse...I'm sure I can come up with a few others! Ha!  Do you think it's a good idea to put off and start piecing the next project?  
Here's "Galaxy"...one of Lydia's patterns that I've always loved...just started digging into some of my stash and I haven't even finished my last quilt!!!!  I love this quilt...it uses just half square triangles...no set in seams.  I think I'll make it even bigger!

Hand or Machine Applique or Both!

I decided to sew down the stems on these applique blocks just to speed things up!  But I was looking for a nice hand applique project to do while sitting on my new front porch, so made a decision....why not hand and machine applique the blocks!  What do you think?  

Turning a negative into a positive

I don't iron clothes...just quilting fabric!  I purposely buy clothes that don't need ironing!  We don't iron any clothes in our house anymore, so the iron lives in my sewing room!  My iron just gets used for pressing my fabric and I get great pleasure in doing that!  I don't know if you've tried Mary Ellen's Best Press Lavender Fields spray but it actually makes ironing your fabrics sooo pleasant!  

Do you start by cutting everything for a quilt?

Should you cut out the whole quilt first or should you cut a little, sew a little, and then cut some more.  I've made some stupid blunders in the past by getting carried away with cutting out the whole quilt and then the fabrics just didn't seem to work.  Also it's good to alternate the different activities...rotary cutting too much just isn't good for the wrists and piecing for hours on end can get a little boring sometimes and well ironing...let's just say a little of everything in good measure works for me!   

Just can't throw those scraps out!

I'm sure in my other life, I had lived through the great depression just like my mother and my grandparents did!  I just can't seem to throw out the smallest of scraps!  I used the cut off from the appliqué blocks I'm making and sewed them together and trimmed them up using my favourite ruler, the Triangle Square up Ruler by Eleanor Burns!  I've now sewn them into a block which will end up as a pillow!  I don't need another pillow but ...oh well!  

Do you really need a design wall?

I don't know about you but I really need a design wall!  I've recently moved and laying my blocks out on the floor just isn't doing it!  I keep tramping on them...so does anyone coming into the room...ugh!  Tomorrow I'll get my flannel sheet out and get it pinned to the wall.  

Do you press some of your seams open for some projects?

Do you press some of your seams open for some projects?  I find when there are alot of seams meeting together I find pressing the seams open once the units have been prepared that it helps with accuracy.  Lydia shared this tip with me many years ago and I've found it really works!  Here's an example, make your half square triangle units the same as you always do...pressing the seams to the dark side, but when you go to sew them into rows or sub-units, try pressing the seams open.  It make take a little more time but in the long run I find the quilt is more accurately pieced and it lies so much flatter.  How about you?

Getting back into quilting!

I've been inspired to get quilting again!  I really needed to just pick a quilt and get sewing...no real fussing over colours and such...just grabbed some fabric and a pattern and well...here goes!  Do you ever get in a funk and just can't seem to get out of it?  

Mother Daughter Baskets by Ginette Vallieres and Alice Chancey

Ginette sent me these photos of their version of Lydia's Bountiful Basket (pattern available)...they named it Mother Daughter Baskets and so they should!  Isn't it beautiful!!  They started the quilt in 1998...Ginette pieced the baskets and did the hand applique and  mom Alice pieced the top and sawtooth border and then quilted it on her Gammill.    This will truly be a special quilt for the two of them!
Lorraine

Are there Blooms All Around?

Thanks to Sharon Noble today for sending us this great photo of her recent quilt she made for the Habitat for Humanity Charity Auction.  This quilt really makes me smile...I love the super simple applique border.  To purchase the "Blooms All Around" pattern please visit our website by clicking here!  Please, please, leave us a comment when you drop by...we'd love to hear from you.  Hope you are all enjoying your summer!
Lorraine at the Rabbit Factory

Be Still my beating Heart...just love batiks, don't you?

Here's Lydia's latest design, Stars of Wonder!  You'll be an expert at making half square triangles when you complete this 84-1/2" x 84-1/2" quilt!  Lydia has used all batiks in her new quilt...don't they look scrumptious?  To purchase her new pattern visit the website at http://www.therabbitfactory.com
Please, please leave us a comment...we love to hear what you think!
Hope you all have been enjoying this lovely summer weather...load up on lots of sunblock as the forecast is calling for a warm one!
Happy Quilting
Lorraine at the Rabbit Factory

Is it possible to reduce your stash with this quilt?

You bet ya!  Here's Mary Fawcett's rendition of Lydia's Cactus Rose pattern and I bet her stash went down a little making this large scrappy quilt (94" x 94")!  Mary sent us this photo which was taken at the Halton Quilter's Guild show.  It was quilted by Lucy Rowntree of the Quilt Rack-Ancaster, On.  Thanks again for sending me your photo...it was such a pleasant surprise in my email!

Craving Licorice Allsorts and another Opportunity Quilt

I remember when Lydia first designed this quilt...the colors she chose reminded us of "Licorice Allsorts"...I just love them and this quilt!  Yumm!!!
Kennalee Mattson contacted us recently to let us know her guild the "Santa Monica" guild wanted to make this quilt as an opportunity quilt to benefit the YWCA Santa Monica/Westside.   Kennalee says "I was just sure I would have problems with the border but it fit like a dream!  I found the perfect backing fabric - an Alexander Henry with beautiful birds of all the colors in the quilt with black background.  And one of our members did a fabulous job of machine quilt!"  They have called their quilt "Songbirds at Midnight"...what a lovely job they have done!

Old Fashioned and Charming Opportunity Quilt!

Jill Bowman asked if she could use Lydia's pattern "Old Fashioned Charm" for their Opportunity Quilt for the Heart of the Triad Quilt Show 2011 in Kernersville, NC.  The quilt show is May 13-14, 2011 at the Girl Scout Learning Centre behind Magnolia Manor, 1203 Frances Daily Court, Colfax, N.C. 9 am to 5 pm Admission $5.00--  Jill did the piecing (a slight change from the original block) but had lots of help with the applique border.  The quilt graces the quilt show poster designed by Nancy Lassiter...aren't those Fig Tree fabrics soooo delicious?  Beautifully quilted by Theresa DeWalt.  I am sure they will be selling lots and lots of tickets! Thanks for a great team effort and for sharing your time and talent and such a beautiful quilt!  Ahhhhh.... a lucky someone will win this quilt!
Lorraine

Beautiful quilts from our beautiful customers!

Here's Shirley Magee's version of Lydia's Pressed Flowers Pattern.  This beauty is hanging in her upstairs hallway.  What an entrance!  Thanks for sharing Shirley!  P.S.  Check out that hand quilting done by Linda Hoiko of Pickering, On....dreammmy!

Jennifer Parslow from Canajohaire, New York recently contacted me to ask for permission to use the Summer Day Sampler pattern to make a raffle quilt to help a young girl go on a People to People Student Ambassador program to England and France.  What a great neighbour Jennifer is!  Jennifer said, "I worked on the quilt when time allowed and it took less than two weeks to complete the top! " This quilt was machine quilted by Cheryl Lee of Galway, New York.  Some lucky raffle quilt winner is really going to enjoy this Folk Art style quilt made out of cuddly Maywood Flannels...imagine!

Above is Laura Brandt with her version of "Elizabeth's Sampler"!  Laura wrote, "There's a story to the way Elizabeth's Sampler turned out for me.  It sure didn't turn out like I was aiming for, but it did turn out!  Time was of the essence once I decided to give it to my brother and sister-in-law for Christmas:  I made that decision two weeks before Christmas and had to get'er done!  So rather than quilt it, I decided to just tie it.  This is a pattern I'm hoping to make again."  Well done Laura.  I have tied a number of quilts over the years as well and I think they look just great!  Laura is new to the blogging world, so please drop on over to her blog at http://wentworthcountyquiltworks.blogspot.com/ and say hi!
Welll, that's all for now!  Keep those photos coming and thanks everyone for sharing!
Lorraine

Here's Our last free Seasonal Fruit Pattern!

Here's the last pattern from our Seasonal Fruit Series...Summer!  There's a cute little bird ready to peck at an apple sitting on the edge of a watermelon!  We will leave the series posted at our website until April, so don't miss downloading.  Go to our website right now at www.therabbitfactory.com
Happy Stitching,
Lorraine

Brrrrrrr! Baby It's Cold Outside!

How fitting to receive these pictures while we are having a bit of a cold spell here in Ontario!

Cindy Brown says: "Here are a couple pictures of the Under the Star Quilt I made for my in laws for Christmas last year.  Instead of using a permanent marker for the Snowmen's eyes, I used buttons.  I also used prairie points for the border instead of binding.  I sewed the whole quilt together by hand and also hand quilted the whole quilt".
Soooo cute!  Thanks for sharing Cindy!
Happy Stitching,
Lorraine at the Rabbit Factory

A Celebration Sampler Quilt that is truly a celebration!

Judith McNabb recently sent in these photos of her version of Lydia's pattern, Celebration Sampler.  What a beautiful quilt!  Judith made this quilt with love for her son's wedding in August!  Judith's choice of the beautiful hydrangea focus fabric and the various greens and blues are set off beautifully with the larger white setting triangles....sooo pretty!  

The lovely quilting is done by Ann Hutcheon!   Click here to see Lydia's original quilt (see heading...Our Quilt Patterns and scroll down a little)  See how Judith has changed it!  Try not to cry when you see her beautiful quilting label (below)...it's so amazing!

Here's our next free pattern!

Here's our next free pattern...Seasonal Fruit Spring, part of a series of 4 designs!  Lemons, strawberries, oranges and a few grapes...sounds like what we all should be eating just after the holiday season!  Hope you're all enjoying a little time with your families, a little time sitting at your sewing machine or hand stitching and a whole lot of time pondering your next quilting projects!  Go to our website to download your pattern now at www.therabbitfactory.com and remember to scroll down on the front page for all the downloads available.  We are keeping them all there for you until March 2011.
Happy Holidays to all and happy stitching,
Lorraine
Here's the complete wallhanging...just one more free pattern but you have to wait until Feb!

Here's our next FREE Wallhanging Pattern!

Hope you are collecting the patterns for our Seasonal Fruit Series. Last month we posted Seasonal Fruit Winter and here is our next free pattern "Seasonal Fruit Autumn".    Each month we are posting a "Seasonal Fruit" pattern...collect all four!   Each pattern can be made up as a separate design as shown above or combine them to make your own "Seasonal Fruit Wallhanging" (below).  Wouldn't this quilt look pretty in a number of different fabrics....civil war, batiks etc? Can hardly wait to see some of your fabric choices!

To get the free patterns you need to visit our website at www.therabbitfactory.com during the months of Nov 2010 (last month's design is still there), Dec 2010, Jan 2011, and Feb 2011! Be sure to tell all your blogging friends to drop by and collect the series! 

Happy Stitching,
Lorraine

Rabbit's Lair has yummy kits!

Check out these wonderful shop samples of Hare Affair and Folk Art Finery made up by Rabbit's Lair in Rogers, AR.  They are certainly doing things right....the sample is made and a kit is available to purchase!  Sometimes digging through the stash is such a job and if you are in a hurry to make up your project, a kit can save you TIME and MONEY.  Sometimes you don't have "just the right fabric" or having to go out and buy 6 different greens can run you into a little money when you only need a little piece, so kits are the answer!  I think you'll be surprised how many great quilt shops out there would be willing to kit up some of the patterns you have sitting in your sewing room, so go ahead and contact your local quilt shop and see what they can do for you!
Happy Stitching,
Lorraine