Canadian Homecoming Quilt

Most of the time, my quilting process is based on my stash of fabrics, a photo or pattern I've seen online or in a magazine or book, and very rarely, a pre-packaged kit that includes fabrics and pattern.

I bought this kit a number of years ago - the pattern is "Homecoming" by Shania Sunga Designs - and it's been in my to-do pile ever since. I finally took it out and finished the top and then it hung in the closet where it wouldn't get wrinkled until I figured out how I wanted to quilt it.

My free motion quilting skills are improving - still working on them - and I saw a couple of ideas on Pinterest and had a few friends on social media give me suggestions and I had a plan!

I quilted it and listed in in the Etsy shop and it sold immediately and then I had a request for another one. The original batik red fabrics were no longer available, so I made the next one with a Northcott Stonehenge Canada fabric and it turned out just fine.

And then there was enough fabrics for one more and I made a third one and it too sold quickly. My free motion quilting skills got a great work out and my love for Canadiana projects was indulged.

I will likely pull this pattern out again as it was a fun project to make.

Maneuvering around the shapes at the edges of the appliques was a challenge, but slow and steady was the key to navigating the tricky parts. 

What projects are sitting waiting for you to start (or finish) them? How old is your oldest project? This one was probably around 6 or 7 years I think.

--Ann

Canadian Content

I love this line of fabrics from Thimbleberries. It's called "Greetings from Canada" and I still find some now and then at local quilting shops and even Fabricland. I've made a few of these little quilted table toppers for hostess gifts when I've traveled and they fit easily in a suitcase if you're limited in your luggage space.

Canadian Friendship Stars - FOR SALE

Canadian Pinwheels - FOR SALE

There's probably enough scraps left for one more project and I think it will be a longer, skinnier table runner.

And I finished them off with my new labels from spoonflower.com. I made a label on Word, choosing my font and adding the magpie picture. When I had the size I wanted, I printed it out and then used my scanner to scan it into the correct format for uploading to Spoonflower.  I have a space for the name of the quilt and room after Calgary, AB for the year. It adds a nice finished touch to my quilted items and saves me time too!

--Ann