the quilt catalogue: the pinwheel pattern

row one
*shabby* pinwheel quilt by carolina patchworks
pinwheel patchwork blankie by frolicdesign
pinwheel quilt, maker unknown, circa 1900-1920

row two
pinwheel quilt blocks in progress by momtwoangel's photostream
pinwheels quilt via by red pepper quilts
bright scrappy illusion quilt by twiddletails

row three
quilt top by CampFollowerBagLady
moda bakeshop's fabulous pinwheel baby quilt pattern
pinwheels by philistine made

row four
pinwheels quilt by casual attitude
spinning in the wind quilt by NoDuplicates
pinwheels by solgrim

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ah, quilting & patchwork! it's one of my true delights in life. and the patterns that have shaped the vibrant history of quilting thrill me. i love when modern works build on the strong foundation of historical handmade arts. in this new rikrak studio series, the quilt catalogue, we'll be exploring some fabulous traditional quilt patterns, the stories behind them, a dozen different takes on the theme, patterns to make one yourself, and an opportunity for you to share your own quiltworks! so sit back, and let's meander down a wonderful handcrafted needle-arts path!

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as warmly summer turns to windy autumn, i see pinwheels spinning in delight in neighbourhood gardens. and it's no wonder to me that these wonderful, colorful whirligiggs captured the imagination of some of the earliest patchwork quilters in north america!

let's explore: the pinwheel quilt!

the basic formation:
it's a patchwork, 2-square quilting design.
1 block is traditionally made from four half-square triangle units.

a little history on the pattern:

reddawn notes in her quilt history that circa 1795, (shortly after the invention of the cotton gin) the "pieced pinwheel block pattern developed" in the US. And that "patchwork blocks and pieced borders begin to be incorporated into quilts" at that same time, while the most popular quilt remained an "overall {quilt} design with a center medallion with one or more borders."

although most quilt patterns were "unnamed" in their early incarnations, as quilt historian laurette carroll notes in her lovely article, "quilt patterns names" , she also points out that the "Godey’s Lady’s Book" was the first American periodical to publish a quilt pattern in the US in 1835", and history has shown us that the pinwheel pattern was already very popular by that time in the Americas.

the "pinwheel" name fits well into the popular notion of traditional quilt patterns reflecting the homelife & outdoor aspects of the quiltmaker's daily lives! ( i think of the dresden plate, log cabin , churn dash, hole in the barn door, grandmother's flower garden and rail fence to name a few everyday life patterns.)


personally, i think of the pinwheel as a beautiful foundational pieced block in the *quilting canon*, that's for certain! i also love how the pinwheel pattern lends itself well to other beautiful variations such as the double pinwheel, cartwheel (whirligiggle), kaleidoscope, virginia reel , flying kite, whirling pinwheel, and has birthed numerous other wonderful variations on the theme!

now... let's make one!

{some great how to's:}

:: basic block construction link ::

:: basic pinwheel quilt pattern ::

:: a fun pattern for making a pinwheel quilt out of fat quarters ::

:: a more advanced pinwheel block here on mccalls. ::
: & a wonderful & adorable little pinwheel baby quilt pattern by moda bakeshop! ::

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i must say, i think pinwheel quilts are delightful. i especially love a two-tone quilt with contrasting colours (i.e. light and dark) and the wonderful contemporary quilts of this and the 20th century incorporating a variety of fabrics on a pale background. i've tried my hand at a few pinwheel quilts myself, but gosh -
perfectly fitting those pinwheel points is not my forte! heavens!
i so admire a great point setter!

ever made a pinwheel quilt? we'd love to see it!
please add a link to an image of it below...

(i hope to do a followup post on reader's quilts each series & include yours!!)

have a pinwheel quilt tale to share?

have a favourite quilting block pattern? do tell!

happy stitching!

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with thanks: to Etsy, the storque & theme fragrance!

xanadu!

another fun installment of the new Etsy storque series :: the collectors:: launched today... yay!
with guest curator, ME!

as you might remember, the etsy series is based on my own :: collections series:: from here on my little rikrak studio blog! be sure to visit today's post on Etsy, and if you can, leave cheers for theme fragrance & her gorgeous bird object collection. yay birds!

many thanks to etsy, vanessa @ the wonderful storque & theme fragrance!

have a fascinating collection you might like to share with us?
please be sure to let me know! thanks!

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let's make: a wallpaper, a book, a vote & a song

happy monday, sweeties.

well... poor, poor monday.
it always seems to get a bad rap. so i've rounded up 4 fun things for us to do today! let's have some fun!

{and don't forget to enter my kootsac reusable bags giveaway on now here on the blog! one more fun thing to do!}

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#1. let's make: wallpaper
love designing?
love playing with colours?
love patterns and shapes?
ME TOO!

the other day i came across Alluminare, a fun & fabulous wallpaper design site! drop everything and go directly to this fabulously interactive workshop (BEWARE: i found it wonderfully addictive!) where you can design & colour your own fun wallpapers, patterns, etc. for your home or office, and then, if you wish, have the company make them for you! fun fun! {editors note: i didn't buy any paper... i just delighted in playing with the patterns!}

i found this site thru the fabulous designhole who is having a great wallpaper contest on her blog {where you can win 20 square feet of the wallpaper you just designed!}... so head on over there, too!

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#2: let's make: a song
i heard that today launches cbc radio2's fun new contest: the great canadian song quest ... to answer the question: what place in canada deserves its own song?

you can nominate your fave canadian place... and the winning places will have songs commissioned for them, handcrafted by amazing canadian songster superstars we nominate! yay!

good golly! love it!
go canada!

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#3: let's make: a book
thought you might like the fabulous artmind's great tutorial on how to make fabulous little scrap paper books - it's sooo fun! and highly highly addictive! let's go make one! heck... let's make 20!

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#4 : let's make: a vote
last but not least, the wonderful TransCanada Etsy Team has launched our very first monthly challenge... it's a fun Autumn theme! so come on over to the Team blog, check out all of the fabulous handmade entries, and vote for your favourite!

ahem.... #1 sure is cute, eh?
hint hint.... pinecone eco bib... hint hint...
#1...
thanks! :)

see you tomorrow, sweeties! have a great making monday! Pin It

the festival looks, revealed!

amanda archer is wearing.....

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emmarts is wearing.....

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happy friday, sweeties!

well last week i invited all of you lovelies to chime in with what you might like to wear on the red carpet with me.
{you can see the first 6 festival looks here!}

i don't know about you, but i fear there just aren't enough occassions to dress to the nines!
heavens!

so i was delighted to see the gorgeous handmade & vintage 2-part show stoppers you came up with! they're sensational , just like the beauties who chose them!

so i wish you all a glamorous, mega-watt smile weekend, and hope you'll join us as we walk the red carpet!
see you monday, superstars!

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emms gems is wearing.....

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chakrapennywhistle is wearing.....

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lilithevy is wearing.....

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Aida Coronado is wearing.....

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Joanna is wearing.....

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Louloubell is wearing.....

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festival look 7
silk dress, custom color by amanda archer
&
night @ the oscars by necklace by BejewelledBespoke

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festival look 8
orange dress by presseanzeiger
&
toe shoes via ARTicles


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festival look 9
vintage drop-waist tent dress via ivoryandbones
&
hand tooled leather heels via shopatmoxie

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festival look 10
midnight dress by sarahseven
&
chandra locket earrings by BroadStreet

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festival look 11
glamarita fringe dress by glamarita
&
low heel sandals by mohop

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festival look 12
mexican vintage dress via aida coronado
&
spirit mountain necklace by abbyhorowitzdesigns

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festival look 13
vintage dreamgirls floorlength gown via Aquanetta
&
crystal ball earrings by ForTheCrossJewelry

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festival look 14
hair pin set by fussed
&
peacock feather dress by circularaccessories

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great greenies & a giveaway! with kootsac

greening.... i find it exciting and hopeful that while there sure are lots of terrible things going on to pollute & harm our planet, there are so many wonderful folks doing fabulous things to help make the world a greener, healthier place! so, the rikrak studio is happy to feature great green-ies : snapshots of amazing, inspiring. eco-forward-thinking folks & groups from all sorts of fields and paths in the greening movement. some inspire by greening at home, or in their business; in their art or the larger world, or on many levels at once! i've asked each green-ie to suggest an easy eco-idea or tip we might all be able to add to our daily lives. today i'm honoured to present the next in this series! and yay... read on to find out how to win a superfun eco.friendly prize pack!

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i love great ideas.
and i love eco. forward folk.

and when great ideas and eco.forward folk meet, great things happen!

enter kootsac (aka inkyspider).
i just love this bright & brilliant shop! kootsac makes gorgeous reusable bulk food bags, filling our need for an alternative to plastic while we shop! she handcrafts bulk food bags, produce bags, totes and more. i met kootsac thru her inspiring work both the EcoEtsy Team and the TransCanadaEtsy Team, and i've long been inspired by her fabulous ideas, her genuine commitment to greening and eco-forward living, and her leadership in the handmade movement.




and here's kootsac's eco.tip:
.......................

"I believe that the simple act of growing a garden leads not only to the nourishment of our bodies and souls but also to a deep love and gratitude for the earth. This is the perfect 'groundwork' towards healing our precious planet.

I love this quote from Dylan Thomas: "The force that through the green fuse drives the flower, drives my green age."

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thanks so much, kootsac!
and goodbye plastic... hello kootsac bags!
and now... a set can be yours!

that's right... the lovely kootsac is offering one lucky rikrak studio reader a chance to
:::::::::::::
WIN a set of 3 reusable produce bags, made of natural silk
in this week's giveaway!
:::::::::::::

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

here's how to enter the giveaway!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

1. go visit the lovely kootsac shop.
... take a look around ... come back here and leave a comment in this post about your favourite goodie from her shop & why.= 1 entry

2. share with us YOUR FAVE easy eco.tip that you USE in your own home/business!
... = 1 entry

3. visit the whatdoesthegoldenmean blog (the kootsac & inkyspider blog) and follow it!
... then come back here and tell us about it. = 1 entry.

4. tweet on twitter
about this giveaway and leave us a link to it in a separate comment here. please include @therikrakshop so i can see it, too! :) = 1 more possible entry.

5. blog about
this giveaway and leave us a link to it in a separate comment here.= 1 more possible entry

6. follow or subscribe to the rikrak studio blog
and leave me a comment here telling us that you do! = 1 more possible entry.

7. do a facebook update about this giveaway
and tell us here. = 1 more entry.

8. :: PLEASE NOTE: each entry must be it's own comment.. thanks! ::

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:: RULES ::
a) it is possible to have a maximum of 7 entries total per person.
b) please make sure to leave each entry as it's own comment. thanks!
c) using random.org, 1 winner will be chosen via random.org on
wednesday september 30th @ 9pm EST.
d) please be sure to leave me an email where i can reach you if your account doesn't link to one. thanks.
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congratulations!

yay! i'm so glad to see that you're loving my lovely sponsors' shops & blogs as much as i do! thanks so much to everyone who entered my little rikrak studio sponsors giveaway!


without further ado...
thanks so much to random.org for selecting a lucky winner for us.... and the recipient of the $25.00 shopping spree in one of my sponsors' shops {or an adspot on their blog} is.... #259... audrey's country crafts! congrats, audrey!


many of you might know audrey from her super-popular crafty blogs, including a fun giveaway blog! and i see that she's running a fabulous Christmas ornament swap, too! sounds like fun! looking forward to hearing what you're going to buy with your winnings, audrey!

and thanks so much to everyone who entered!
& fear not...
another fun giveaway is starting here tomorrow! indeed!

so tune in to see learn more about a wonderful artist & the fabulous prize you can win from her wonderful wonderful shop!
see you then!

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advertise with the rikrak studio blog!

thanks so much to the nicies who have come on board to advertise in these 1st few months here on the rikrak studio blog! it's almost the end of the month - and so i thought i'd let folks know that for the new month of october, i have a couple of spots available, if you're interested!

if you feel that your shop, group or blog would be a good fit with the rikrak studio blog feel & focus, and are interested in rates, please email me at rikrakmail@yahoo.com . i'm gearing up for the busy handmade Holiday season & have lots of fun planned for the blog! i'm also a handmaker & mommy and know it's a challenging economic time out there... so i try to keep the rates nice & low!

i'm also happy to design ads for folks that need them, too! the rikrak studio blog is young but will hopefully continue to grow & grow! thanks so much for helping to build it, wonderfolk!

so come & be part of the fun!
thanks so much!
k.

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my favourite things: autumn

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above

gorgeous honeycomb smocking tutorial by tumbling blocks, via craftnouveau
recycled abstract painting by deedee914
giclee print by jennski
flora and fauna print set by ashleyg

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below
6 pieces of antique bronze filigree wrap by shareliving
hot chocolate goodness purse via thevintagesocialite
roots mahogany earrings by orno
rare 1950's typewriter via poetichome

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oh autumn.
i love you.
{maybe don't tell the other seasons, but you are most certainly my favourite.}

your lovely colours. your beautiful textures. your warm days and crisp-cuddly nights. and... and ... and....

i'm putting the quilts on the beds & swinging a sweater over my shoulders... happily!

so here's to you, dear sweet autumn.
in all of your gorgeous hues.
i love you. i really do.
welcome back.

what's your favourite season, lovelies?

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above
make your own felt pillow tutorial on etsy
handmade danish pendant lamp by ethanollie
giclee print with mat by mimidoodles
savory lemon basil banana pepper jelly by bovine bubbles

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below
honey mismatched mugs by GlazedOver
woodland drops earrings by JillPopowichDesigns
tuppertime cannister clock by IMOtime
knitwit hoops by lianakabel

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handmade sister cities {part 3}: london, england & moscow, russia

row one
white blossom felt corsage by AAliciaAccessories : london
back to nature by Shkolnik: moscow
step square ring by elizabethyeap: london

row two
25 watches print by janicej: london
manhattan poster by claudiavarosio: london
russian valenki felt boots by rusvalenki: moscow

row three
gingham full circular skirt by Rosieleeclothing: london
nuno felted wrap by JaneBoFelt: moscow
gold hoop chain by KissedJewellery: london

row four
popopad by popopad: moscow
carpet buffalo by JuliaFelt: moscow
ice slice by FeltedPleasure: moscow


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oh how i've always loved the idea of sister cities.
two great places, joined over sea & sky by the idea of common cultural & commercial ties.

this new rikrak studio series explores 2 sister cities @ a time,
and some of the handmaking lovelies that they share!

be sure to visit the other handmade sister cities posts here.

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handmade sister cities #3
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london, england & moscow, russia
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what wonderfully fabled capital cities these two are!
so steeped in lore & history & great tales!
i can think of dozens of great stories that capture my imagination from both places... & such great handmaking traditions, too!

have you been to either of these fabulous capitals? i'd love to hear your own tales.i've loved seeing the fabulous sights in london, & look forward to exploring moscow one day.

does your city have an official twinned city/sister city?
i'm always looking for great handmade sister cities to feature!

have a great monday, lovelies. & just another day to enter my big sponsors shopping spree giveaway! & don't forget to add your own outfit ideas to this post here...
i'll be making up the article this week & would love to feature you!

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hokey dinah!

a gorgeous little glimpse, thanks to the onion on flickr.

{sorry, no usb cable to upload my own yet!}

hokey dinah!

is there anything better than a rockin' concert?

following on the heels of yesterday's *what i'm working on... * post, thought you might be keen to see what i was doing yesterday when i wasn't working

... that's right. DANCING!

@ the fabulous fabulous U2 360 show in toronto.

heavens to betsy... it was fantastic!

{a funfun little surprise bday gift from mr. rikrak! so fabulous!}

with the skydome (i refuse to call it rogers centre! it's the young growing-up-in-southern-ontario-an-in-the 90's-and-lovin'-the-blue-jays in me!) roof open, the stars blazing, 65000+ dancing fans, and with just about 10 folks between me & mr. rikrak and bono...

let's just say it was alllllll things wonderful.

my oh my!

{ and the handmade lover in me was lovin' bono's rockin' patchwork-y jacket! }

going to see any fun live music shows soon?

which one(s)!

and have a rockin' weekend, lovelies! {don't forget to enter my sponsors giveaway here. they're all rockin', too!}

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what i'm working on: baby quilts

yes indeed. i'm working on lots & lots of little baby quilts these days. seems like it's another wonderful time when lots of friends are having sweet little babies & little quilted playmats are one of my very favourite things to design & create!

so that's what i'm working on...
how about you? what are you working on these days?
i'd love to hear.

a few of the little rikrak playmats and baby quilts i made last year.
you can always see what i'm up to on my flickr photo account. :)

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challenge: let's see your festival look!

it's that time of year again!
when i don my loveliest frocks & head off to the glamourous toronto interntional film festival (tiff) on the arm of my favourite handsome hollywood filmstars to walk that red red carpet.




or at least in my pretending world.

so here are 6 two-part outfits i've collected {a girl can never have too many different looks, right?... there are dozens of premieres throughout the festival, you know! }

and i've got a little challenge for you.




i'd love to know what YOU would wear.

..................................

just...
1. choose a fun frock (or something else)

2. choose a fun accessory for the look.

3. cut & paste a direct link where i can find each item on the net into your comment.

4. make as many 2-part outfits as you'd like (feel free to include goodies from your own work, too, if you' like!)

5. next week i'll include as many of your featival looks as i can in a follow up post, and i'll be sure to link to your lovely shop/site, too! great free advertisting for creative, dressed-to-the-nines YOU!

6. and hey... if there are LOTS of entries, i'll get my random.org generator to pull a few for us to see!

..................................

can't wait to see what you'll be wearing...
we'll both look GREAT on the red red carpet!
let the festival looks begin!

::: how to get the looks! ::::

festival look 1
recycled vintage negatives earrings by tomatedepingles
&
magic moonlight fiesta dress by AidaCoronado

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festival look 2
blue halter drape dress by larimeloom
&
bronze goddess vintage & recycled bracelet by alexkeller

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festival look 3
vintage wiggle dress via LouLousVintage
&
vintage designer pumps via EmeraldLove

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festival look 4
garbo blue earrings by nancywallisdesigns
&
eco-friendly bamboo jersey gown by econica

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festival look 5
mae salvaged hat comb by whichgoose
&
white gown by amandaarcher

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festival look 6
canary dress in layered chiffon by hollystalder
&

midas ring by cookoorikoo

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congratulations!

what a wonderful bunch-o-nicies you all are!

thanks so much to everyone who entered my little birthday giveaway! and superthanks for your kind words and birthday cheers!

well... as promised... there was a funfun $50.00 shopping spree up for grabs in my www.rikrak.etsy.com shop! so without further ado....

random.org kindly chose a winner for us… and congratulations goes to #36... the lovely lovely joey&aleethea!

woowee! i was so excited to see you as the winner, nicey. the brilliant woman behind joey&aleethea was one of the first people to purchase something from my etsy shop... yay!

if you're not already familiar with her lovely work, be sure to visit her superfun boutique for all things handmade for the kidlets.. .including supercute outfits, bibs, onesies, burpcloths and lots lots more! and she's a real nicey! so congrats to you, sweetiepie!

she's a funfun mommy & she crafts a fabulous blog, too. .. you can catch all the fun here.

so thanks for entering, and happy shopping spree to you, joey&aleethea.

and no worries nicies... there's still time to enter & win my NEW giveaway... where you can enjoy a $25.00 shopping spree in anyone of my sponsors' shops! yay!

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come back in a few hours when i'll be launching a fun new *challenge* f

or you to participate in! see you then!

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