Welcome to Ships & Violins

With the first anniversary of Ships & Violins nearing, I can't help but reminisce on the collection that started it all, The East Coast Trail. Below I've documented the quilted pillow cover photos taken with Toronto landmarks in the background, and the inspiration behind each unique and one of a kind design for you to enjoy. SAV-001: The Kissing Bridges of Avalon My partner and I encountered some trying moments on our hike. But despite injuries and difficult weather, we stayed true to our pact: the first to arrive at a bridge would wait at its centre to share a kiss...

"Have you ever sewn a scrap onto a FPP template only to find that you missed covering the entire section when pressing it open? I’ve certainly had my fair share of these moments, so I’ve illustrated a simple technique that will eliminate the guesswork and give you the confidence to tackle the job."

Learn my technique by visiting Canadian Mod Quilt Collective's blog.

Click here to pre-order The Drop digital quilt pattern. 

It was a hot summer day and Josh and I were out for a bike ride down to Lake Ontario when we decided to stop in at HALO Brewery for a motivating refreshment. While savouring my saison, I glanced over the beer menu and spotted some usual suspects. I wrote HALO a quick email explaining who I was and what I made, noting that their designs by Underline Studio were perfect for patchwork.  Some commissions come to you, others you seek out; lucky for me, HALO's creative director was interested in commissioning two quilted pillows based on their New Wave and Magic Missile...

  Photo by Ashley Fernandes. Taken at Puente de Luz Bridge in Toronto, Canada.  While thru-hiking the East Coast Trail in Newfoundland, icebergs were often nestled in the calm waters of the bays we trekked. They were quiet and stoic reminders of the cold and windy coastal winters. Once spotted they were always a great reason to pause for a snack, and watch them rock back and forth, or track their course down the coast.   You can purchase your own copy of the Winter 2019 Canadian Quilter Issue here.  Fabrics used: a mix of KONA solids and V & Co. Ombres. 

Welcome, and thanks for stopping by! What better day to publish your first blog post, then on a pattern release day. Ships & Violins' second quilt pattern, Butterfly Waltz, is available today in Make Modern Magazine, an Australian-based mag dedicated to all-things quilting. Their 31st issue is digitally available here. Many of you may not know that I pursued a career in writing for many years before dedicating myself to quilting. From poetry to reporting, I dreamed of becoming a writing rockstar. Despite my adoration for perfectly coupled words, and capturing the setting for an unlikely tale, I didn't have the drive to continue...