Our Quilty Pleasures Gallery was inpired by the old "Bring and Brag" concept. Quilters and other artistic types like to strut their stuff. Not only does it provide the encouragement we need, but it's a way to share ideas and give inspiration to others.

If you would like to display your artistry in our Quilty Pleasures Gallery Just email a photo with an accompanying explanation. We think 25 to 125 words would be best. Send them to info@quiltypleasures.ca.


Betty Ann inserted the Boys Will Be Boys panel into a very simple setting for this quilt, but her colour and fabric choices make it sparkle with fun. Unfortunately, due to Val's poor photography skills, we can't show the corners: Betty Ann appliquéd kites, then couched yarn onto the borders to make the strings. They're really cute, and we're sorry that you can't see them! Betty Ann inherited this old quilt top which was made by either her aunt or her grandmother, and then undertook the job of hand quilting and finishing it. A nicely done rescue of what will become a treasured family heirloom!
Kathleen takes us to the beach with these cute kittens playing in the sand. Another great example of how fabulous fabric, simply framed, can make a fabulous quilt without a lot of fuss. Nancy was challenged by her long-distance friend to make McKenna Ryan's Christmas quilt as a joint block of the month project. She rose to the challenge admirably and produced a stunning quilt that will be on display for more than just the joyous season!
Lyse took the Quilting I class and made her sampler from rich rose, green and burgundy batiks. We love the variety of looks that come out of that class, and Lyse's quilt is a fine example of the elegant variety. Carolyn and Judith participated in the Million Pillowcase Challenge, a North America wide program dedicated to providing pillowcases to a wide variety of local charities. Our pillowcases are being donated to Ronald McDonald House. We'll be holding more more pillowcase sewing days throughout the summer, so why not plan to join us? The fabric kits are provided for a nominal fee, the pattern and instructions are included, it's fun, and it's for a good cause.
Karen Bond sent us this email: Hey ladies — I finally finished my 4 plus month project and without your long arm, it would have taken much much longer. Thanks again, and happy new year! — Karen
This back view of Karen's project shows her wonderful quilting job and a terrific middle detail!		 Claire was working on her Duke of Edinburgh Award qualifications by learning a new skill: quilting! She tackled an I Spy quilt for donation to CHEO and did a great job with the whold process.
Here she is ironing...
...and finally...Congratulations, Claire!
Shadow Squares was a very popular class. Here is a variation that incorporates a panel as the focal centrepiece. Here's another perfect example of why the Turning Twenty Again pattern is a best-seller!
Paulette made this crazy quilt in rich reds, and is following up with one in lime greens. Just goes to show that even crazy quilts can be controlled! Chris has really caught the crazy quilting bug! First she made the orange table runner, then she moved on to matching orange placemats, then a set of coasters. What's next?
Starting with a panel, Madeleine stretched it into the perfect size for a pink-and-purple-loving princess! Madeleine's experiment with an easy circular construction technique resulted in this modified orange peel table topper. No binding required, it can be made as big as you want and it lies perfectly flat. The experiment paid off!
Lyse made her Circle Bag from the batiks left over from her Quilting I sampler (see above). She worried about her choice of batting, but, as you can see, she needn't have! Kathleen's Provencal Quilt is a bright, cheerful example of the power of fabric to take you away from the everyday!
Suzanne's Trip Around the World. Anne's Tessellation. The biggest "plus" in Anne's colourful tessellation is its cheerfulness. What a great use of colour!
While the Fun & Done class didn't get completely done, they sure did have fun! Eyes in the Jungle Quilt. The eyes have it in Janet's very simple, but very effective, strippy quilt.
Elaine's Crazy Patch Jacket class had so much fun they planned a reunion to model their finished creations! Diana made three matching (well, almost) quilts for her daughters and daughter-in-law for Christmas, giving her family a very warm holiday indeed!
The results of Janet's Chinese Puzzle class -- as you can see from Del's wall hanging and the other examples below, there are many, many solutions! Catherine's Chinese Puzzle.
Ginette's Chinese Puzzle. Pierrette's Chinese Puzzle.
Carol had an enormous collection of Oriental fabrics, so she turned it into an enormous quilt! The combination of chevrons and Chinese coins is particularly effective with these fabrics. Caroline, Chantal, and Carol-Ann are all relatively new quilters (actually, one of them is brand-new to sewing!), but they produced three totally cute homespun baby quilts. Well done!
Anne and Irene challenged each other to make the same quilt pattern, but from completely opposite colour schemes. Irene chose orange, Anne took its compliment, blue, and both quilts are spectacular. Here is Irene's quilt. The real challenge is to choose a favourite!
Tad does all of her piecing by hand. Here's a top-in-progress, no doubt close to being finished – she sews just about as fast as any sewing machine! Susan made this flip flop quilt for her shoe-loving granddaughter. Bright, beachy colours add to the fun!
Stella's star is beautifully pieced and quilted, giving it an heirloom look. ItŐs sure to be treasured for years to come! Stella's quilt demonstrates the enduring appeal of the nine-patch, especially when made in gorgeous rich fabrics like these!
The girls show off their Super Simple Quilts after class. The fabric choices make them all super! Lesley Hill sent us an email:
Thought you might be interested in seeing the quilt my daughter (14 years old) made with material bought at your store in June 2009. It is called Pink Lemonade. Thanks for your help in picking out the material.

We're guesing the toes in the picture are her daughter's too! Here's the back!
Sylvie with her students Jean, Ginette, Pierrette, and Diane modeling their new Mandarin Collar jackets. Debbie participated in our mystery quilt program and was the first to solve it! Her quilting is beautiful, even though the picture doesn't do it justice.
Barb finished this quilt top that was left to her by her mother. In keeping with its age, she hand quilted it, even though she's a whiz with the 18.8! Elaine's ditty bag is so cute and easy to make – we're betting it will be offered as a class!
Sheila's circle bag, done in a modern acanthus print, is another example of this pattern's versatility. Odette made her Circle Bag from upholstery fabric – rich and sophisticated, with a beautiful sheen.
Kelly's Circle Bag is quietly elegant in blue Oriental fabric. Diane's Circle Bag is fun and funky. Who doesn't love polka dots?
Marion made her Joyous Blooms wall hanging as a hostess gift for friends in Scotland, proving that Ottawa tulips can grow anywhere! Ginette's reversible baby quilt shows what a great technique this is – quick to make and sewn entirely by machine, it stands up to hard use!
Lynne is making personalized quilts for each of her many grandchildren. This is Jacqueline's, and it shows her enjoying her favourite activities throughout the year. Now Lynne has only one more to make, so stay tuned for the results! Tad chose the traditional Card Trick block for her latest hand-pieced, hand-quilted creation. It's nice to see that machines haven't entirely taken over the quilting game!
Susan's appliqué quilt is an exuberant depiction of the blanket toss, a traditional Inuit game. Do you think she called it Quilt Toss?> Madeleine really appreciates the therapeutic benefits of colour, and her collection of clear-coloured squares bouncing on a cheerful yellow background is positively uplifting. Note the offset piano key border – it's the perfect finish!
Ginette and Liz both took the Cat Nap baby quilt class, and, even though Val was the emergency substitute teacher, they managed to produce extremely cute quilts. This is Ginette's, and ... this is Liz's.
Ildiko loves rich Oriental fabrics, and these tote bags are examples of some of the many projects in which she uses them. Note the cute scallops (Prairie Rounds?) on the top edge of the bag on the right. Elaine quilted her grandson's Skateboard quilt on the Pfaff GrandQuilter 18.8. Half was done by free-motion, but she used the QBot automated quilter to add perfect quilted motifs in the solid blocks. A very nice blend of human/robot creativity!
Desert Scape by Carolyn Scollick. Thought you might be interested in seeing my wall hanging. It took me two visits to Arizona before I could feel happy with the results when I put this together. The Circles So Simple class produced a quilt that is so simple to love!
Four-Patch Stack is a relatively easy version of Stack-n-Whack, but the results are just as spectacular. Here is a perfect example of what can be achieved with a gorgeous Oriental fabric — that's right, just one fabric! Bruce's Nativity Triptych is a beautifully appropriate use of the stained glass technique – it could be a church window!
Lyse's Turning Twenty Again, done in blacks and greys, with a touch of red, is contemporary and sophisticated. The fabulously intricate-looking piecing in Susan's quilt would be enough for most people, but she added a "webbier" dimension with the addition of spiders. Finally, a quilt for us arachnophiles!
Sharon used the Bloomin' Dozen plants as a border for simple framed squares, proving that combination of piecing and appliqué can make a really effective statement. Sharon's dramatic black and white quilt is further emboldened by a bright yellow Irish Chain/Pinwheel pattern. Sensational!
Here's a great example of a QBOT quilt! Barb used her Grand Quilter, frame and new quilting robot on this scrap quilt, with fantastic results.
Look at this detail.		 Mayda, a new quilter, tried her hand at colourwash. Her transposed borders (with perfectly mitred corners!) make the piece sing.
Ildiko made another Chili Pepper pattern, this one a wedding ring-style table topper. She placed her colour values differently from the pattern, achieving a totally different look.
Then she made another table runner!		 This is Vivian's very first quilt! We know lots of experienced quilters who would think twice before tackling this one!
Elaine used Michèle's "Owen and Isabelle" pattern to make little Martin's quilt. Instead of embroidery, she incorporated baby labels (from a printed panel) into the blocks. Another great idea for using panels! Graduates of the Super Simple Quilt class show off their almost-finished products.
Mary was asked to make a queen-sized quilt after she bought only enough fabric for a twin. The result shows how ingenuity will triumph every time! Mary's sister, Barb, made this stunning quilt -- her first -- without a pattern. Laurel Burch fabrics, with their distinctive palette, provide the vibrancy.
Lois made this Atkinson Design quilt for her husband after his surgery. The name? "The New Knee Quilt". At the time she was planning a second one, named "The Other New Knee Quilt", in honour of his upcoming repeat surgery. Madeleine's Four-Patch Stack is magnificent! Notice how she used the leftover "short stacks" in her inner border.
In the Apron with a Differential class, Ginette made two aprons, including one to match the placemats she made in the Square Dance class. Jan's Four-Patch Stack is another example of how beautiful fabric can be transformed into infinite versions of itself.
Sherrill's gorgeous quilt for her mom started with the sawtooth star in the middle. Then it just grew and grew and grew! Brigitte had her rose-and-magnolia quilt from the Quilting I class professionally quilted by Karine Chapleau. A beautiful job by both ladies!
Jan, Guylaine, and Sam show off the Abby's Treasure Boxes they made in class. Linda was too shy to have her picture taken, but her bag wasn't! We loved this collection of fabrics (which didn't last long!), so it was great to see how Ann used it in this quilt for her son.
This is Shirley's interpretation of a picture she found on the internet. All of the pieces are individually hand appliquéd and machine quilted every ½" in a continuous spiral. She also provided us with pictures and descriptions of three other projects – (see 2, 3 and 4, adjacent) 2. "Denis & Amy's Quilt" was originally designed as one for my daughter–in–law to curl up with tea and read but has now been hung in their bedroom – after their having painted the bedroom to coordinate with it!
3. "Bunny quilt" was made for a co-worker's little girl. Those bunnies multiplied while I worked on it; one of the babies even tried to escape. 4. Ava's dad lives and breathes helicopters so a helicopter was a must for her quilt. And it had to be pink for the pretty girl. Thus "Ava's Helicopter Baby Quilt" was designed to meet her mother's request.
Sylvie made this photo-transfer "album" for her niece. She used only black & white pictures and framed them very simply in brown batik for a very sophisticated result. Now she has to make another one for her niece's sister! Here's a close-up. Tamara made this elegantly neutral quilt with a quilt-as-you-go technique.
The back, however, is not so neutral!
See a close-up of the front here.
Lyse took the Circles So Simple class, using Oriental metallics for a subtle, sumptuous effect. When this picture was taken, she was shopping for binding, which she found. It's purple! Mary only turned twelve, so she actually almost finished her quilt top in the Turning Twenty Again class.
The rest of the class each finished a block or two.
Sylvia took the Circles So Simple class with Anne-Marie and made this fun quilt for her grandson. She fussy-cut animals for the circles, then identified them with her embroidery machine. Here's a close-up. Here's another row robin quilt that Sandy is doing with her internet group. The owner of this quilt wanted a floral theme, so Sandy added a row of pansies to the collaberation. They're so well done, Val thought they were paper-pieced.
Marie-France took the Mad About Crazy Quilting class, and made this funky tote bag from her black & white blocks.
Here's the other side.		 Ildiko was looking for "something different" and here it is! This paper-pieced table runner (from a Canadian designer, no less) is elegantly rich in metallic Oriental fabrics.
Mary spends her winters in a trailer in warmer climes, and of course she takes her sewing machine with her. These are the quilts she produced this winter -- all are being donated to charity. Now everybody can stay warm! Nancy designed this super-cheerful quilt after she bought a Fresh Squeezed layer cake (ask us what that means). After all, a day without orange is like a day without sunshine.
Helen bought a bundle of black & grey fabrics before she took the Turning Twenty Again class. She experienced some cutting issues, but brought in the completed quilt top to show that there's always a solution. This quilt will be given to her son once it's finished (the next challenge!) Susan's co-worker was retiring and she wanted to make him a special gift. Since he was born in the Year of the Dragon, Susan was inspired to make this wall hanging. She found a picture of a dragon on the internet and traced it directly from her computer screen onto a QP plastic bag to make the pattern for her appliqué.
Sylvia's walls are pink, so putting a red Christmas wall hanging on them is a bit of a challenge. Her solution: declare purple and fuschia Christmas colours! Sylvia needed a wedding gift for a couple who had both been married before, and she didn't want to give them a toaster. This paper-pieced Jinny Beyer quilt is a much better choice!
Sylvia made this cheerful lap quilt for a friend who's fighting cancer. Guaranteed, her friend will feel better as soon as she sees it! Not content with making the placemats suggested for the Square Dance class, Sylvia made a bigger wall hanging. The buttons came from her grandmother's collection.
Helen's Maple Leaf quilt is based on her favourite block from Quilting I. She took a great deal of care in choosing rich autumn colours, and her efforts paid off with a quilt that sparkles. Sandy belongs to an on-line quilting group that likes to issue challenges. This time, they're doing a row-robin exchange; Sandy's task was to add a row to the one provided by the future quilt's owner. She did the job admirably, changing it from an embroidered woodland scene to a river shore by adding rocks, water, fish, and a canoe.
Francine took Michèle's "Four-Patch Stack" class and produced this beautiful quilt with a romantic Victorian feel. Hard to believe that only one fabric is used to make such a wide variety of blocks!
Brigitte's mother had an old card table cover that had definitely seen better days, so Brigitte used her ingenuity to make a replacement. First she embroidered the card motifs onto felt, but thought that it needed more body. Since she didn't want to quilt the top, she made a backing with cotton and fusible fleece – she then embroidered those two pieces together with a quilting design and fused them to the felt top. We should say she used her ingenuity and her embroidery machine!
Here's a close-up of the quilting!
Marilyn's Turning Twenty quilt turned out great. Her daughter chose the fabrics, and Marilyn chose the striped border, which she cut lengthwise. Notice how beautifully she mitred those corners! The girls in the Turning Twenty class all turned their twenty fat quarters into big, beautiful blocks by the end of the day and their quilts are going to be fantastic. Chantal and Gina, both first-time sewers, claim to be hooked!
Georgina chose beautiful batiks for her Quilting I sampler, then made a pillow sham and neck roll to create a complete ensemble. Carol obviously approves of her student's initiatives!
 This is the result of three workshops offered at Quilty Pleasures: /Suzanne's Bag/ by Michèle Gagné, /Circles so Simple/ by Anne-Marie Valois and finally /Binding Basics/ by Val Jensen. — Lorraine.
Here's the top view of Lorraine's project.
Sandy took the Madison Square Runner class to make a wedding gift for a friend, but now she's reconsidering. It turned out so nice, she wants to keep it! When Sherrill saw Alex Anderson's Neutral Quilts book, she felt compelled to make one with the stash of creams and beiges she'd been collecting. Following Alex's advice, she added lots of white for sparkle – great advice for a great quilt.
Lyse attended Michèle's "Unleash Your Inner Artist" class, and did she ever! This is the result of the class exercise, then she continued with this party piece. We're sure there's more to come!
Here's another one by Lyse!		 I am a beginner machine quilter, self-taught, and I have been doing quilts for my kids for about 1 year. I was waiting to find the perfect pattern and the perfect colors to finally do our bedroom quilt. I bought all my fabrics in your store with the help of your kindly staff and, 6 months later, a broken sewing machine and a broken free form foot later, here it is! What a learning curve it was but..... that's it, I'm officially addicted to quilting!!! — Chantal.
Shakila is an avid fan of machine embroidery, usually to embellish her gorgeous saris. This time she tackled a sumptuous queen-size bedspread, complete with 33 different floral embroideries and ribbon treatments in the sashing and border.
Here's a close-up.		 Sherrill used Michèle's "Owen and Isabelle" pattern with a fresh and funny farm fabric to make this adorable baby quilt. What a great way to incorporate a focus fabric in an unexpected manner.
Lynn has taken it upon herself to make a personalized quilt for each of her grandchildren. This one, for her grandson, reflects his love of vehicles. As she was designing the quilt, Lynn's greatest challenge (and fun) was in searching out the perfect fabrics for the appliqués – she ended up drawing a tiny Canadian flag for the Peace Tower! Watch for her next quilt, a Sunbonnet Sue variation showing her granddaughter throughout the year. Carmel specializes in Trip Around the World quilts – every time she makes one, someone asks her to make another, and she does! This one is a glorious example of how blacks, whites, greys and (surprise!) beiges can be combined to make a neutral quilt that is anything but boring.
Martine's quilt is a great example of how stunning secondary designs can emerge when simple blocks are combined. Here we have nine-patches, half-square triangles, and plain squares. Who woulda thunk it?
 Marion made this reversible quilt with a nice twist: she made crazy quilt blocks for the front and plain alternating blocks for the back (see it here). After she put the blocks together, she felt the quilt was too small, so the border was added as an afterthought. Another great use for the reversible quilt technique!
Marion made this cute Noah's Ark from a convenience panel. She had a bit of trouble with the border, but managed to weather the storm admirably! Susan's golden lab has a paper-pieced pedigree. This is a great example of the intricate designs that can be achieved with paper-piecing and a little attention to detail.
4-Patch Stack is one of our most popular classes, and it's easy to see why. A variation of the stack & whack technique, it allows a large variety of fabulous patterns to emerge from a single fabric, just by assembling very easy repeat cuts. Susan took our "Circles So Simple" class and used the technique to make this fantastic graphic quilt. Here's the back!
At the East meets West Shop Hop, I won an instant prize of some Halloween fabric. I thought you would like to see what I did with some of it. I foster kittens for the Ottawa Humane society, and these are my current charges. Thanks for the fabric! – Catherine Chamberlain More "Circles So Simple", this one for Sherrill's table. We love it when students take a technique and run(ner) with it!
Stella, an avid machine embroiderer, framed her gorgeous florals with crazy logs — proof positive that embroidery can be used in quilting, with beautiful, unique results! Shirley used 5" squares to make this striking nine-patch. A few charm packs and a little imagination is all it takes!
Lois's 4-Patch Stack shows what happens when you leave your comfort zone. She fell in love with the chrysanthymum fabric, which happens to have a lot of orange in it (not her favourite colour), and let herself go with it. The results are spectacular, and you can see how happy Lois is! Quilting I students often far exceed class expectations. This sampler quilt is almost twice as large as the one required for "graduation"!
Marion's "Duck, Moose, Goose" quilt turned out great. She added an outer border to make it as big as the great outdoors!
 Dianne put her fabric stash aside and experimented with embroidering on paper. As she learned at a recent session of the Embroidery Club, paper makes a great canvas. Here are the greeting cards she made. Here are some closeups: 1.  2.  3.  4.  5.
Here is one of the quilts the "Out of the Drawer" group made for Victoria's Quilts. It was made with Alma's Block (named after Alma E, who taught this class years ago and has been associated with it ever since). Here's another Alma's Block quilt, only in different colours. It, too, was donated to Victoria's Quilts.
Hope you're sitting down for this one — this little beauty was entirely paper pieced! Remarkably, Marion is still standing (and still smiling)! Here's proof that cheater panels can provide the starting point for highly original, artistic quilts.
The "Out of the Drawer Group" met every Thursday afternoon during the summer to make charity quilts. This Double Pinwheel was the first completed; it was later donated to Victoria's Quilts. Trudy made a replacement stained glass dragonfly for the one that was stolen, and this one was personally delivered to the grateful newlyweds without incident!
These three Maple Star table toppers turned out just great. It's always fun to see how fabric choices and spur-of-the-moment design decisions can make such a difference! Madeleine's fabric covered box is elegant in creams and roses. Her choice of Oriental fabrics with a bit of lace trim makes a lovely, sophisticated statement.
This beautiful box is just begging to be filled with Valentine's chocolates! Jacinthe is crazy about teddy bears, so she embroidered this little cutie for the lid. The beading detail adds a great finish.
Leonard took the crazy quilting class in rsponse to a dare from his wife. He rose to the challenge in grand style — we're just waiting to see a full-sized quilt! Cindy has a Pfaff embroidery machine, and, as you can see, she uses it to great advantage. These adorable teddy bears are keeping one lucky baby warm and happy!
Olivia's basket wall hanging has a lovely folk art feel — we love the stylized acorns and oak leaves! Heather took the crayon thread painting class and finished her class sample into a pot holder. It's always nice to see what happens after a class!
This antique crazy quilt has never been finished and is starting to deteriorate. The eight descendants of the original owner consulted with a professional quilt appraiser regarding the pros and cons of restoration. After a long process of deliberation, they decided to split the top into eight pieces and finish them individually for the various family members. Take a look at these 4 closeups:
1.  2.  3.  4.		 Marilyn's pretty appliquéd flowers on a sunny yellow background bring the garden indoors.
Elizabeth is a quilter and a knitter, so she not only had a fabric stash, she had leftover wool as well. Looks like her quilting persona solved the problem -- by alternating fabric and knitted patches, she's created the ultimate patchwork vest.
Leila took the Tropical Paradise class and look what happened -- a tropical paradise!
Jocelyne's baby quilt was actually finished before the baby arrived!
Nancy took Suzanne's machine quilting course, then whipped up this fantastic Yellow Brick Road quilt (OK, the quilt top was already made, but still ...).
Here's a closeup of the back!
Rita and Laura's Yin Yang bags show just how easy it is to attain perfect balance. It's all in the fabric!
A closer look at Rita's!
A closer look at Laura's!		 Sam made this doll quilt for a school history project. She passed!
Leila hand-appliquéd these baskets, then put the blocks together in a quilt-as-you-go technique. Took some time and a lot of work, but it was well worth the effort!
A closer look!		 Michèle designed this cute little outfit and pieced it out of pastel ginghams. She's in the process of making a hat to match, so stay tuned!
A closer look!
Suzanne did some beautiful piecing and appliqué work on this quilt; if you could see the quilting, you'd see how spectacular this piece is! Denise Smeaton is our Beading teacher. These are just some examples of her beaded art dolls. Beads also make great embellishments on quilts -- check the Classes page to find out more.
Elaine's jacket was made the same way as rag quilts with frayed edges -- a different application for a fun and easy technique. Another contribution from Elaine. Here she shows how some simple embroidery can dress up some simple patchwork to create a charming pillow.
The perfect quilt for springtime in Ottawa! Simple, graphic designs make a strong statement. The colour choices in this quilt add to the boldness.
Stack & Whack never fails to impress when a complex, colourful fabric is used for the whacking. The chrysanthemum print in Claudette's sample is stunning. Sue-Ann made this Wheel of Mystery quilt in our class. She started with a pre-cut kit (what a time-saver!) and arranged her colours to obtain the optical illusion.
Fresh as spring, and just as pretty! This is a nice example of how a simple block (in this case, a nine-patch) can be arranged in surprising ways. Jacqui had several buckets of scraps so she set to work making string quilts for charity. This is her blue version.
And this is the green one! This space reserved for your words.