For someone who likes social order, I never thought I would be a fan of graffiti.  Graffiti is often defined as unauthorized scribbling, doodling or marking of a public space.  It was commonly attributed to gangs using it to mark their territory or make statements against authority. 

​Graffiti over the years has evolved in may cities to become more Urban Art than territorial markings - and wall murals are a perfect example of that evolution.  City cores that were often drab and dirty used urban art in murals on buildings to bring more colour and interest to beautify and add visual interest to spaces that had little vegetation or beauty.  

Never did I think I would create any kind of graffiti art - I just cannot draw well.  Well, sixty-four years has taught me never to say never.  And then came quilting.

When I started to quilt I learned about a facebook group named "QITDA" - Quilt to death anonymous. I marvelled at the quilting many of the experienced quilters did that was absolutely random and gorgeous! They used it to fill in backgrounds on every kind of quilt.  Some of it was whimsical and others of it was pure magical beauty with swirls and flowers and birds and feathers and even scenery of sorts.  I wanted to do that!

I started by simply drawing swirls and circles and feathers over and over.  I filled several notebooks with doodling before I tried it on a sample piece on my longarm.  Creating random connected flowers and feathers and bubbles and spirals was addictive!  I was in love! I could go on and on but the verdict would still be the same - graffiti on a quilt can be transformational.

The best part is how relaxing creating quilting graffiti can be!  It is a great way to make an appliques quilt pop as you can see below.  It is also a fabulous way to add whimsy to an already fun quilt.  I am not yet an expert - and I do not expect to take my graffiti to an urban space anytime soon (if ever) - but what a journey this will be!  

​Thank you to all my quilting customers who trusted me with their creations to doodle on!

When I first got back into quilting, I began with making traditional blocks.  I loved the look of some of the vintage quilts that I saw - Dresden Plate, Sawtooth and of course, Log Cabin.  I started making quilts using old fashioned blocks and tried to make them more modern by using newer fabrics in more modern colours.

I liked the look - but was not in love with any of the quilts that I made.  I showed many of them to my mother - who has a great eye when it comes to style.  She remarked that they were beautiful but wondered if maybe I should try making quilts that were more modern and that would fit better into peoples contemporary decor.  I had to really think about this because the one thing I did not want to do was to create quilts that were available in similar looks as some quilts sold at retail stores.  And I really did not want an avant-garde look either.  I like corners that match and do not like bizarre looking blocks!



​It took some time to realize what the differences were between a more traditional quilt and a modern looking quilt.  Interestingly enough, modern quilts were actually easier to make than the more traditional style quilts and after a little experimentation, I finally determined how to make a more modern quilts that look great in any current decor.  And you don't have to buy special patterns to create them.  So here are some things you can do to take a traditional pattern and make it more modern.

I was in a business course many moons ago and there was a coach there who was listening to a dilemma that I had.  He paused and listened intently, and then waited until I stopped and calmly asked me "Why do you keep swimming upstream?"

My first thought was - "well there is a right way to do things".  And that may be true if you are a surgeon or  dentist.  Or a Judge.  But in most things in life there are many ways to accomplish any one thing - and as long as no one gets hurt or there is no damage to property - it may even be easier!

Well I experienced this again! Really?  In quilting?  Oh yes I did. (chuckle)

Several years ago I bought a program with a pattern called a 'mystery quilt'.  It was a program that sent you part of the pattern each month and you did not know what the quilt looked like until the last installment.  I never did get the quilt started until several years later.  On this past Sunday evening, with all the installments in hand, I headed off to a quilting retreat in the hopes of starting and completing the entire quilt in 4 days.  To maintain the integrity of the program - I decided to do each installment before looking at the next and actually followed the directions.  And began swimming upstream.

I will not go into all the gory details - but each step, after I had painstakingly followed all the directions and pieced each section, I realized that the instructions swam upstream so to speak.  Each step that I went through took the long way to cut and piece each block  All 1800 pieces.  I was tempted to try to rewrite all the short cuts - but in most cases when I realized there was another way - I was already half way through the hard way.

What many people do not realize is that you do not win any awards or badges of honour to do things the hard way.  In the end we actually lose.  Time.  Patience. And even the desire to finish something. You may feel a sense of accomplishment for swimming upstream - but the only thing I know that swims upstream to success - is salmon.  And we all know what happens to them when they reach their destination.

When I find a faster, easier way to do something now - I make it a habit to use that way - and still keep looking for other great time saving methods.  This is why I have been writing patterns with fast and easy techniques to make the project more enjoyable that can be completed in a shorter time period. You can have results you can be proud of  and still have time for that cup of tea. (or glass of wine).

So, if you are wanting to save a little time making your quilt tops - sign up for my newsletter  - or read the archives here where I announce new patterns - or take a look at "No Waste, Quick Finish Quilts".  I will be adding more patterns over the next little while!

When I was in grade school, we had fewer professional days and more “unprofessional” days - where we simply had a little bit of fun!  Every year we would have a pajama day where we all got to wear our pajamas to school. 

We also had “Backwards” days where we wore our clothes backwards and tried to do everything backwards. Walking backwards became dangerous and as I recall we did not do much in gym class backwards - but it really opened our eyes to doing things in a different way.

In quilting, I find I do a lot of things backwards.  Unsewing for example.  Yes we all do that once in a while!

But I also visually deconstruct quilts to determine the pattern or to redraft a pattern to make the best used of the width of the fabric - making it a no-waste quilt.

I was inspired recently though, by the wideback fabric I ordered and received that I keep in stock for quilters.  The quality and colour of the wideback was beautiful and I began to wonder why I should only use this fabric for backing.  Why couldn’t a backing be used in or as a quilt front?

I showed one such fabric to my daughter who loved the neutral look and rose pattern of a wideback called “Rose Whispers” designed by Eleanor Burns.  She asked me if I would make a quilted bedspread out of the wideback - which of course was very easy.  Widebacks are 108 inches wide - so I cut a front and back 108 inches long and quilted it with a wool batting and voila - a beautiful king size bedspread! The big surprise was the cost.  Fabric for the front of a king size bedspread was $86.50. (the back would cost the same)

​For a king sized quilt - this was unheard of!