Celebration Sparklers Let’s end our tenth anniversary celebration year with some fireworks - made of fabric of course!  This month’s block is inspired by the Iceland Ice block in the book “Zen Chic Inspired” by Brigitte Heitland.  Her blocks made me think of sparklers, those hand-held fireworks that produce bright, coloured sparks. I’ve changed up the colour scheme to mimic colourful sparklers against a dark night sky.  The block finishes at 12” square. Fabric requirements Black solid for the background A bright solid, tone on tone, or small scale print that reads one co ..read more

 Tulip Time! This month’s block has nothing to do with the number 10.  To celebrate spring, we’re taking a break from our regularly scheduled Tenth Anniversary Block of the Month programming to celebrate an iconic spring bulb here in Ottawa, the tulip! Based on the Amsterdam Quilt, a free project from Cloud Nine Fabrics, we’ll make super sized, scrappy blooms. Fabrics   For the tulips - two different main fabrics (prints or solids) in the same warm colour (yellow, orange, red, peach or pink) For the leaves - green print or solid For the stem - a different green print or s ..read more

 Little Houses This month we continue our 10th anniversary festivities by sewing house blocks - because it takes a village to sustain a quilt guild for a decade.   My inspiration is the Global Village Quilt from Gwen Marston’s book “A Common Thread”.  Made up of house blocks sewn in a riot of different colours and prints, they come together to create an eye-catching quilt.  Fabric requirements You will need four different prints for the house block.  No solids please.  Bold, colourful prints are encouraged! From house print cut:   1 - 6.5” square ..read more

 Number 10 This month we tackle the number 10.  Inspired by last month’s program on colour presented by Tara Faughnan, we will use only solids.  Also inspired by Tara, I’ve chosen a colour that I’m not drawn to and rarely use for the background - brown.  This block finishes at 10” square. Fabric requirements Background - any shade of brown solid Contrast - any solid of your choice From the brown background cut: 1 - 3.75” x 6” 3 - 1.25” x 9” 2 - 1.25” x 10.5” From the contrasting solid cut: 2 - 2” x 6” 2 - 2” x 6.75” 1 - 2” x 9” Assembly: Use a ¼” seam throughout. &nb ..read more

Raspberry Kisses  For this month’s block, I reached into the Ottawa Modern Quilt Guild archives, and pulled out a favourite of mine from the winter of 2019.  That year Alison Harle, inspired by a tutorial on the Wooden Spool Quilt blog, offered us a block with a raspberry coloured cross at the centre. The cross or “X” fits our 10th anniversary theme perfectly.    Fabric Please use two different low volume fabrics for the background, and a raspberry coloured fabric for the cross. For the Centre Block cut: 4 – 2 1/2″ background fabric squares 2 – 2 1/2″ cross fabric s ..read more

 Scrappy X String Block This month’s block is adapted from the String Block in “Quilt Improv” by Lucie Summers.  It is made up of four units sewn together so that the diagonals of each unit meet to form a white “X”. For this block, you will need a cardboard square cut 6 ½” to use as a guide. Fabric: An assortment of blue strips in a variety of prints and solids, ranging in width from 1” to 2.25”. Four 1.5” x 10” solid white strips, for the centre diagonal of each unit. To make one unit: Place one white strip along the diagonal of the cardboard square. Cut 2 blue strips (or “stri ..read more

 Another Ten Piece Block In keeping with our tenth anniversary theme, here is another block made up of ten pieces of fabric.  For this block, I dug into the Ottawa Modern Quilt Guild Block of the Month archives, from 2015-2016.  I have changed up the colours. Cut 2 - 2.5” x 12.5” strips of white Cut 2 - 1.5” x 12.5” strips of white You will also need additional 2.5” strips of white (see below) Cut 3 - 2.5” strips of 3 random lengths (less than 10” long), in any shade of green or pink solids or near solids (tone on tone or fine prints that read as one colour from a distance).&n ..read more

Fall Themed Tunnel Block This month’s block is inspired by Rachel Hauser’s Tunnel Block Tutorial on her blog, Stitched in Color.  I have resized it, but kept her idea of monochrome blocks, moving from dark to light in the same colour as the block is stitched. Colours - I’ve taken my colour inspiration from the fall leaves.  Choose red, gold, orange, or yellow for your block.  You will need four fabrics in only one colour to form a gradient from dark to light.  Solids are fine, or near solids and simple prints.  The block is sewn in 4 layers with the darkest coloured ..read more

 Block Of The Year - The X Block This block is inspired by the Cross Block from “Quilt Improv" by Lucie Summers. For the background fabric - choose a colourful print - no white, cream, beige, grey or black. For the X - any shade of grey solid From the background print cut - 1 square 6.5”x6.5”  From the grey solid cut - 2 strips 1.5”x10”   Cut the square in half on the diagonal.  You now have two triangles.   3.  Centre the long side of one triangle (right sides together) on the long side of a grey strip.  The strip is longer than the triangle (on ..read more

We're getting ready for our biggest and best year yet -- OMQG's 10 year anniversary! Our first meeting is on Monday, September 25th. We can't wait to share all we have planned for the coming year!  Sneak peak: Retreat in November  Tara Faughnan lecture and workshop Sarah Goer workshop More sew-in days 10 year anniversary activities! Sign up for a membership ..read more