04 March, 2013

Oh Canada


Oh Canada
72" by 48"


The Maple Leaf quilt is finally done! (Sorry, it's been done for months but it took me forever to get photos I liked.)

Made in complete proportion to the real Maple Leaf Canadian flag. All the coloured sections are made from slabs - scraps pieced together to make fabric. The technique is in our book, Sunday Morning Quilts. I wanted to show that the slabs can be used for more than straight blocks. I also wanted to share a little patriotism to show the Brits that the Union Jack isn't the only flag worth making into a quilt.


How awesomely Canadian of me to snap the photos on Lake Louise as we skated on a snowy days. Hockey skates, fires, mountain, snow... Damn, I love where I live!

Seriously, I do love where I live. Even when I have to pay my taxes and deal with dumb politicians (but those are everywhere, right?). I love our spaces, our vistas, our social leanings, our multi-culturalism, our healthcare (even when flawed), our cities, our variety in everything. I even love my accent. And that's PROgress if you know me.


For the quilting on this I used a combination of Aurifil 50w in white - to densely quilt the white sections with a lot of texture - and Presencia in coordinating colours for each flag section. There were a lot of threads to bury at the end, but it was so worth it.



I will be developing this into a pattern, I promise. Hopefully before Canada Day. I'll keep you posted.
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45 comments:

  1. karen @ badlandsquiltsMarch 4, 2013 at 8:10 AM

    I so love this quilt! And I like where you live too...so pretty. And after many years of attending the Farm PROgress show in Regina, I even get that comment!

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  2. JaclynMarch 4, 2013 at 8:19 AM

    It's beautiful! I just love it.

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  3. Lee DMarch 4, 2013 at 8:45 AM

    I too love where I live, well except for maybe yesterday after coming home Sat. from Argentina with 25-30*C temps. to a blizzard. the quilt looks lovely at Lake Louise. You can't get more Cdn than that eh!

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  4. ShannonMarch 4, 2013 at 8:48 AM

    It's beautiful! I love the colours. Especially with the skates.

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  5. elleMarch 4, 2013 at 9:01 AM

    EXCELLENT!

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  6. M-R CharbonneauMarch 4, 2013 at 9:03 AM

    FANTASTIC! Gorgeous photos too!

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  7. AndreaMarch 4, 2013 at 9:04 AM

    Love. Love the way that the slab technique makes it look tonal/textured
    PROgress? I don't get.

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  8. RonnyMarch 4, 2013 at 9:17 AM

    Fabulous quilt Cheryl! I sure love where I live too - we've got the same backyard and its one of the loveliest in the world!

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  9. CitricSugarMarch 4, 2013 at 10:14 AM

    There is nothing I don't love about this post.

    Wiping a maple-flavoured tear from my eye...

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  10. LauraCMarch 4, 2013 at 10:17 AM

    Love love love this and I'm not even Canadian! What a great juxtaposition of the snow and mountains with the bright colors of this quilt.

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  11. mjbMarch 4, 2013 at 11:00 AM

    I love this quilt and the setting is so gorgeous. And I love clicking over here and seeing tiny Nik in your header, too :)

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  12. lizMarch 4, 2013 at 11:08 AM

    LOVE IT! Looking forward to your pattern!

    I'm a Canadian (Ontario), now American gal living in California the past 24 years and loving it. Lake Louise is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Great choice for spot to photograph this beautiful quilt.

    I can see one of these photos ending up in Canadian Living magazine, can't you?

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  13. Dana - Old Red Barn Co.March 4, 2013 at 12:11 PM

    So glad to see this beauty. Love, love, love it!

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  14. Sondra BorrieMarch 4, 2013 at 12:20 PM

    This is such a beautiful quilt, totally amazing, I love the detail. And it looks stunning with the scenery. Love it!
    And yes, you are so right, taxes and idiotic politicians are everywhere...check out the U.S.! LOL! Best to you, always, Cheryl.
    Sondra

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  15. Mrs HMarch 4, 2013 at 1:53 PM

    Hi love the quilt and lake Louise looks amazing - as a Brit I can say your flag Quilt is amazing ! :) ps love the Sunday morning quilt book and your blog !

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  16. annMarch 4, 2013 at 2:21 PM

    To paraphrase a couple of Canadian Icons (Bob and Doug MacKenzie)"It's like totally righteous duude". I absotively posilutely love this quilt. It is a MUST for me to complete for my Canada Day baby (OK so she's 24 this yr) as I get her some kinda Canadiana every year. Once again you have outdone yourself Cheryl. YOu have red and white flowing through your viens--oh, we all do; red and white blood cells. You know what I mean !? This may have to be my new screensaver I can't stop looking at it.

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  17. Token Asian FriendMarch 4, 2013 at 2:29 PM

    I had to show this to my Canadian husband. Beautifully done!

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  18. Vicky KMarch 4, 2013 at 3:31 PM

    Love the quilt and your book. Great scenery wished I lived closer to the mountains.

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  19. felicityMarch 4, 2013 at 4:06 PM

    Brava! It's wonderful, Cheryl. A beautiful ode to our fabulous country.

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  20. KatMarch 4, 2013 at 4:41 PM

    Fantabulous quilt! Being Canadian in the Canadian Rocky Mountains @ Lake Louise in winter is the best!

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  21. AlisaMarch 4, 2013 at 5:29 PM

    LOVE it!! And I love the photos too. I like Lake Louise but I am still glad I live in the Fraser Valley. :-)

    I am working on a Canada flag quilt (just one flag) to be done by Canada Day (hopefully!)

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  22. LeanneMarch 4, 2013 at 7:17 PM

    Totally awesome dude! I love the picture with the skates!

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  23. JenniffierMarch 4, 2013 at 8:16 PM

    Wonderful quilt and great pictures. I love the one where the quilt is being held up with ice skates underneath!

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  24. SarahMarch 5, 2013 at 3:54 AM

    I love this! I feel an affinity for Canada, despite being Australian. My brother lived in Whistler for 18 months in 2011-12 and Banff for 6 months in 2008-9. My cousin also married a Canadian girl in July last year. When they have a baby I plan to make a maple leaf baby quilt for them. Apparently australia and Canada are quite similar in their space, their social values and multiculturalism. It's on the travel list!

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  25. BendingPins.comMarch 5, 2013 at 4:34 AM

    YAY O'Canada! So cool to see a Canadian Maple Leaf quilt, we don't tend to toot our own horn, this is fun! I love how the leaves themselves are all patchwork-y inside. xo!

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  26. AnonymousMarch 5, 2013 at 7:28 AM

    Oh my Gosh! I love, love , love it! I love Canada, it is the best place to be born and raised!
    My son is a Captain in the Canadian Army and would love to make this for him and his family.

    How did you get such accurate maple leaves???

    Great job and beautiful pictures!
    Vicki

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  27. ElsaMarch 5, 2013 at 9:00 AM

    I'm not Canadian but I love it there and love leaves too!
    This is a beautiful quilt!

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  28. AndreaMarch 5, 2013 at 9:04 AM

    Did anyone else see the maple leaf atop the ice sculpture in one of the photos? Did you plant that there on purpose? Totally awesome.

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  29. AnonymousMarch 5, 2013 at 11:03 AM

    It's so wonderful! Have you ever read the Sweater?

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  30. AritaMarch 5, 2013 at 7:30 PM

    It's beautiful. Looking forward to the pattern.

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  31. CarolynMarch 6, 2013 at 9:19 AM

    looks FANTASTIC! love the scenery too!

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  32. Elita@Busy Needle QuiltingMarch 7, 2013 at 5:13 AM

    What a beautiful quilt, Cheryl! It is very interesting to see the "slabs" made up into a different pattern. I made a laptop cover recently with the Canadian flag on one side & the Swiss flag on the other to celebrate a dual citizenship. Very cool quilt!

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  33. Frances MeredithMarch 8, 2013 at 2:19 PM

    What a great shoot!

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  34. Little Island QuiltingMarch 9, 2013 at 12:27 PM

    I consider myself a Brit well shown ;-)

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  35. AnonymousMarch 9, 2013 at 6:32 PM

    I love this quilt - what an great use of color and fabric. Nice job

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  36. AnonymousMarch 12, 2013 at 6:50 AM

    Wonderful post and quilt! I'm looking forward to your class here in Thunder Bay next month!

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  37. HollyMarch 13, 2013 at 3:25 PM

    Awesome quilt, eh? I love how you took the quilt to the perfect location for your photoshoot. This is the first time I can remember seeing skates in a quilt photoshoot!

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  38. Heather D.March 20, 2013 at 3:47 PM

    What an awesome quilt. I saw this on pinterest and had to come over for a better look. I'm Canadian as well so I totally get this!

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  39. Heather AApril 5, 2013 at 10:22 PM

    This is SO GREAT! Haven't you got the pattern ready yet???!!!

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  40. ToyaApril 6, 2013 at 11:56 AM

    This is just beautiful.....I love where you live also!!! I don't care what anyone says, I can't go without snow! I live in Michigan and proud of it!! Patiently waiting for the pattern.

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  41. SuzanneApril 7, 2013 at 7:32 AM

    I'm smitten!

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  42. valentinegirlApril 7, 2013 at 5:39 PM

    This quilt is amazing!!

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  43. weedabbleApril 15, 2013 at 6:29 PM

    I totally LOVE this quilt and NEED to make one!
    Is your pattern available??? I will purchase it right now if it is!!!

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  44. GailM.May 20, 2013 at 7:41 AM

    I too would buy this pattern asap. I'd love to make one for Canada Day this year. Let me know when it's availabale.

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  45. UnknownAugust 12, 2015 at 8:33 PM

    Wow - I have just seen your wonderful Maple leaf quilt and I read that you planned on making a pattern of it - I hope that you have managed to do that because I would love to make one - your maple leaf is the best one I have ever seen. Please let me know whether you have a pattern or not. Thanks so much.
    Pauline
    perry94022 at hotmail dot com

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