Thursday 29 September 2016

The Road to Home Row Along - Day 9

Thank you very much to Marian (http://www.seamstobesew.com ) and Amy (http://sewincrediblycrazy.blogspot.com/)  for hosting this Row Along and for including me in it!
I designed this row in Electric Quilt 7® (EQ7®)  since I am not a trained (or natural) artist.  Click on the 'Craftsy' button to get the pattern.


EQ7 design - Leave a comment if you would like the EQ file.


 Nowadays my road to home is long and beautiful, because often I am travelling from visits to family and friends in southern Ontario in Canada to the west end of Manitoulin Island (the largest freshwater island in the world!) which is located in the northern section of Lake Huron, west of Sudbury, Ontario and east of Sault, Michigan in the United States.


The Island is home to a number of towns and villages, situated among lakes, farms, logging operations and quarries.  And quilters!  Since we enjoy mostly rural life, most of the families can boast of at least one quilter in the family.  There are two guilds, a club and several quilting ‘bee’ groups on the Island and many, many more quilters who just stay at home and quilt on their own.

After thinking about many ‘roads to home’ in my life, I chose the actual drive I take up Hwy. 400 to Sudbury, west on Hwy. 17 then south on Hwy. 6 from Espanola to Little Current.  After that, I travel Hwy. 540 to the west end of the Island and home.  I visualized this road trip as a movie and decided to design it as a movie or film strip with five blocks illustrating the drive I take.  The quilting (or piecing) challenge I decided to attempt was to improve my curved piecing techniques that I learned from Gourmet Quilter at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mIwp8TZtfU  I have tried this a few times, but I wanted to do it enough that I could do it easily.  I certainly recommend her video tutorial!


Block 1
 This block symbolizes all the rock – granite and quartz, etc... that has been dynamited and pulverized to create the highway to northern Ontario




From Espanola to Manitoulin Island, there is more rock and the windblown trees memorialized by the Group of Seven – amazing Canadian artists.  .  ‘Stormy Weather, Georgian Bay’ by F.H. Varley, in the National Gallery of Art  is just one example of the type of scenery we have in this area





Block 2
I wanted to show a barn quilt even though our barn quilt trail isn’t quite complete yet!  Of course, if I had wanted to feature the wildlife, I would have had to show you whitetail deer, sandhill cranes, Canadian geese, hummingbirds, loons, raccoons, squirrels, coyotes, skunks, weasels, porcupines, as well as all the water life like whitefish, salmon, trout, turtles, etc....
We have miles of rail fences along the roads as well.




Block 3

Indigenous people lived on Manitoulin Island (which means ‘spirit’ island) until decimated by disease brought over by Europeans and then driven out by the Iroquois.  Early in the 1800’s Odawa, Ojibwe, Potawatomi began to move back to the Island. 
Nowadays these villages are vibrant places and each one celebrates and hosts visitors to their powwows and other events (Aundeck Omni Kaning, M’Chigeen, Sheshegwaning, Zhiibaahaasing, Sheguindah & the unceded reserve Wikwemikong).
At the entrance to Aundeck Omni Kaning is a welcome sign and a tipi, so I’ve included a tipi in my block.



North America is called ‘Turtle Island’ by the indigenous people so I had to include a turtle as a symbol.
The medicine wheel is a symbol of life and many aspects of the cycle of life:
· The  east is red and symbolizes Spring, growing, physical care, nutrition
· The south is yellow for warmth, Summer, breath and emotions
· The west is black for Fall, adults, water and spiritual health
· The north is white for Winter, dormancy, education and fire
These are the optional symbols that I have included, but of course there are many other items that could have been included.

Block 4

 I approach my home and in the summer, I can see the beach furniture and toys out on the beach (when the grandchildren visit).  Then there’s lots of activity on the beach and hours of fun.  Without the young people, it’s a pretty quiet place and I’m either working in the yard and beach or quilting! 


Block 5

How could I finish a road to home without a sunset?  I couldn’t.  My friends and I share photos of beautiful sunsets....as do millions around the world, I know.



I hope that you find something of value in the row I have designed!  The challenges involved in designing it have certainly helped me improve my skills with designing appliqué pieces in EQ7®.  This is a great computer program that will enhance the work of every quilt designer!  From designing quilt blocks to colouring the thousands that are included in the program ; to designing quilts, quilt labels, photo quilts and so much more....EQ7® is amazing!  Not to mention the company’s support of their software!  I’ve been using computers since the first personal computers and have never seen the level of support given by the staff at Electric Quilt.  They should all win awards for their efforts!

Thank you for visiting my blog!  Please enter for our giveaways today!
 Anita Goodesign




 Quilters Dream

Besides me today, there are 3 other bloggers presenting their rows:


Quilted Fabric Art at 
www.quiltedfabricart.com










Pamela Quilts at pamelaquilts.blogspot.com





QuiltFabrication at 
www.quiltfabrication.blogspot.com


80 comments:

  1. I love your block and all the information you gave us about each unit. Thank you

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  2. I agree, EQ is amazing software, just yesterday I wrote support and had my answer within minutes.. it's the one software I'd upgrade/update without even thinking about it first.

    Your row is awesome, I've waited so patiently to read the story about your row and am excited to learn how each part of the row represents your beautiful home. It's exciting to read about your quilting adventures also with learning a new area of EQ, and trying to work more on curved piecing. I'm honored you joined us for the Row Along and hope you'll think about it again when we do this again next year.

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    1. Thank you, Marian, for your patience with those of us who are new to this! I'll be waiting for your next adventure (but not this season!).

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  3. Your row is wonderful! And thank you for all the interesting information about your region!

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  4. Great row - I love the film strip theme.

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  5. I love your row. Thanks for sharing your road home. I'd also love to have the EQ file as well. Thanks again!

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  6. What great details in your row.

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  7. Wow! Your row is so awesome. I loved the story about each section. Thank you for sharing.

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  8. Thanks very much. If you send your email to me at macdonaldlp@gmail.com, I'll send you the project file.

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  9. What a great way to show off all the fun places you see on your road home. Love the filmstrip around it too. This one is on my to-do list for sure. Thanks for a fabulous row.

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  10. Thank you for the wonderful tour of your home and the road home. It sounds like a lovely place to live. I will be viewing the tutorial you reference. Can't wait to make this row.

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  11. Very nice row. It really depicts the Island.

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  12. Cool row, Lauren - your island has such a variety of neat things to see and do! Thank you for bringing us to your home on this virtual tour! Thanks for the pattern, too!

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    1. P.S. Thank heaven for Electronic Quilt - such a great tool for designing. I've been working on my applique' techniques lately too! I love every gadget or program or tool that makes quilting easier than Grandma had it!

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  14. The filmstrip around your row makes it even more amazing. I love all the details and colors! Thanks for sharing your row and where you call home.

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  15. I am having so much fun on this "tour" of everyone's rode home!!!!

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  16. this is wonderful. i love how it looks like a reel of photos

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  17. What a lovely row...and so very meaningful for you. Thanks for sharing!

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  18. Pretty nature row, showing things in your area. 24Tangent@gmail.com

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  19. Thank you all for your generous comments!

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  20. Great depictions of your "roads" home. Sounds like a wonderful place to call home.

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  21. Love your row - my Dad loved Manitoulin Island! It was his fav place to go camping!

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  22. Love the film strip idea - great row!

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  23. Thank your for the row pattern. I love all the different scenes you show. The filmstrip is great!

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  24. I love each slide of your filmstrip row. Great idea!

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  25. I love your blocks for your row. I want to visit Canada and see all these wonderful places. crystalbluern at tds dot net

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  26. Your row shows off your area very well!! Thanks for sharing!

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  27. Your row shows off your area very well!! Thanks for sharing!

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  28. I love how you made your row look like a film strip, very clever. Thanks for sharing!

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  29. Wonderful block-what an inspiring place you call home! Thank you, Susan

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  30. What a lot of thought you put into these blocks! Thank you

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  31. Love it all, but the Tee Pee is my favorite.

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  32. So enjoyed your post. Your row is great!
    nikilsend(at)outlook(dot)com

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  33. A very special row. - nicely done. It looks like a beautiful place to live.

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  34. I would love to visit your state. Love the colors of your row. thank you!!!

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  35. I would love to visit your state. Love the colors of your row. thank you!!!

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  36. Wow! Your row represents so much of your area of the world! Thank you for sharing!

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  37. I love that you showed the inspiration for each part of your row. That is so interesting! Thanks for a great row.

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  38. Very nice trip looking at your row ty for sharing.... happyness04431@yahoo.com

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  39. I enjoyed the story of your row. Thanks for sharing.

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  40. I love your row! Thank you, you put so much thought & work into it. <3

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  41. Your row is wonderful! I love how it looks like a filmstrip.

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  42. What a fun drive! Lots of beautiful things to see! Love the sunset! I just love hearing the stories behind quilts.
    reillyr2(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  43. Great row and very interesting information. I enjoy reading about different places and traditions. Thanks!

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  44. Great row and very interesting information. I enjoy reading about different places and traditions. Thanks!

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  45. Thank you for sharing all the interesting information along with your lovely row.

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  46. I enjoyed hearing about the island where you live and the long history it has. I did wonder what the weather was throughout the year. Looks like summer is warm and sunny. Great row; love the 'movie' concept; the designs are amazing. Thank you for the pattern.

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  47. Great block row depicting your island. Love the information and description you gave.

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  48. I really like how much thought you put into your row sections! And I am love love lovin' the dream catcher :)

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  49. Great row. I'm really enjoying all the info and the rows. Thanks.

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  50. What a lovely row! Thanks for sharing and all the information as well. Sounds like beautiful places. Great job!

    Thanks for a chance to win.

    usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com

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  51. Wonderful row, so much went into this I'm impressed.

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  52. What a nice row--your use of color and the film strip effect are especially striking.

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  53. What a great row, it's quite detailed and beautiful.

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  54. Great row. I love the colors you used. And that film border sets of the blocks perfectly!

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  55. The Island sounds heavenly! Thanks for sharing the beautiful photos. I am really enjoying my virtual trips on this blog hop!

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  56. Thanks for the beautiful pattern,but when i tried clicking on the crafty button all i got was an error..so wasunable to download it .Being canadian i am very interested in getting your pattern

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    1. I to got this message. I am from Alberta and would love to get this pattern. I guess we will have to keep watch and see what happens. Hopefully the error gets fixed soon.

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    2. Go back to the Craftsy webpage and in the search bar type Westend Quilter. It will bring up the pattern. Good luck.

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  57. Thank you so much for the pattern. I love it! I would love to have the EQ7 file. I sent an email to Craftsy about the error on your page. Thanks.

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  58. Love your row! the filmstrip is soooo creative! Thank you for sharing, and for the pattern too! :D

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  59. I especially like the barn block with its quilt block on it

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  60. What a lovely row and I love the explanation of what each segment stands for. You did a marvelous job. Hard to believe that the Road to Home is almost finished. I have loved all that has been shared and thank all the designers for their hard work, their creativity and their willingness to share. God bless.

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  61. Loved your row. I loved your story. I want to come visit your island.
    Swoot@att.net

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  62. Can you check your link? There is still an error. Also, I would love to have the eq7 file. Thanks.

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  63. Craftsy is still saying "Opps" through the link. I have EQ7 and would love to have the EQ file - I think this attaches my email address :)

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    1. Could you comment again please? I can't seem to find your email address.

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  64. I really like the way you made your quilt film of all the wonderful areas surrounding you. Craftsy won't let me in to your store. Can you email me the pattern, please. Not the EQ, just the pdf. That would be great. Thank you.

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  65. Please Could I have a copy pdf? Craftsy is broken. Thank you very much.

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  66. My family spent a week or so on Manitoulin Island in the late 60s. It was wonderful and something I'll never forget. A friend of my mom's family had a cabin there, right on Lake Manitou. We left Bowling Green, Ohio and drove to Detroit, and entered Canada with our camper on the back of the pick-up and towing our boat. Went to Tobermory where we waited for everything to be loaded onto the ferry. Our boat was on a boat! While we had the use of the friend's cabin we didn't use it much, mostly just for the drinking water. We used our camper as much as possible. Oh, we had fun, lots of swimming and fishing. We'd never seen water so clear. Looking down we could see the bottom of the lake, we could see fish swimming, it was amazing. One morning I walked out to the dock and noticed a fish on a fishing pole that had been left with the end (and hook) hanging over the edge of the boat! Our trip home was completely overland, we spent a day at Soo Locks watching the ships move thru the processes.
    I understand the island is known for something a bit unique, it's an island in a lake, but it also has it's own lakes and islands.
    Thanks for this great memory. PS I'd love the EQ version of the pattern.

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  67. What a lovely row! And, thank you for telling the story behind it. lynnstck@yahoo.com

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  68. This is such a great row, love the film strip effect.

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  69. I would love to have the EQ version of the pattern. Can't wait to make this row! catfish-3@hotmail.com
    Thank you so much...

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  70. All I get on Craftsy is OOPS. I would very much like to have the eq file for this row - great row!
    Mruland@comcast.net

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  71. file was corrupted and now all I get is an 'oops', please send EQ version

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