Friday 30 August 2019

Lovely Rain

Hi Everyone,

It has been so good to have some rainfall this week. I only wish the inland areas and farms were also receiving it.

Many of us battled the wet roads to get here this week. The hall was warm and cosy and busy as usual.

Sandy and Debbie decorated the morning tea table so beautifully. It was a joy. Thank you for the special effort you both made.

We have received a letter from Roseanna Gallo accepting our invitation to be judge for our show next year.

Marie K. brought in more of Moina's fabric for us to use for Community quilts as well as our own.
Sue S. and I raided the Wagga cupboard ready to make a Wagga each. The woollen fabrics are lovely to work with.

Don't forget Helena's free motion quilting workshop next week. Bev is going to help her. Those members who are going to our retreat next weekend bring your machine along on Thursday as you will be packing it up to take to the retreat anyway.

Show and Tell:

Stringalong quilt from Jenny. A great way to use up scraps and so colourful


Red and White (always stunning together) quilt from Sheila. 
Sheila made some of the blocks in classes with Wendy Williams. She also used blocks of her own. 
A beautiful quilt.



Baby quilt from Bev. Pattern from the FreeSpirit Block Party Book from 20 Modern Designers



Jenny had fun using the various stitches on her machine to complete the blue heart quilt that I posted a week or so ago.
I, for one, never seem to use all the amazing stitches available on my machine. Jenny is inspiring me to be more adventurous. 


Until next week ....

Sunday 25 August 2019

The Year is Flying by

Hi Everyone,

Another great day this week. We had a big roll up which is always very, very nice!

Modern Quilt Show:

Some of us went to the Modern Quilt Show which was held in Kiama last weekend. Kiama is such a pretty spot and the weather was perfect.
I was impressed with the entries. Beautiful quilts and a number of quilt shops selling their wares.
Grace received a Judges' Commendation for her quilt. There is a photo below. Grace is teaching the pattern at Material Obsesssion. The pattern is also available for purchase.

Helena's Workshop:

Helena has asked me to let you know what to bring for her free motion quilting workshop on Thursday September 5:

A sewing machine which can lower the feed dogs
A basted quilt or a 3 layered quilt sandwhich piece to practice on
A darning foot for the machine
Gloves with a bit of a grip
Thread, scissors etc.

Helena said to email her if you have any questions.

Show and Tell:

Grace's winning quilt. Grace made an innovative use of 'peepers' which helped to minimise the number of wedge shapes she had to use.


 A Wagga from Grace.


 A Cot quilt from Grace


 This quilt is going to Inala to be auctioned 


 Baby quilt from Grace. She has been busy!


Until next week ......

Sunday 18 August 2019

A Busy Day

Hi  Everyone,

Another busy and enjoyable meeting this week.

Heather kindly donated a free motion foot for our Janome machine. There is a clear plastic box in the cupboard for the machine.

Iris gave us details for this year's Lord Mayor's Picnic Quilt.  Iris  will be handing out instructions for the various blocks next week for us all to participate.

Narelle handed out the instructions etc for our Retreat in September. There is another Patchwork shop nearby. Helen and Suzie visited it last year. It is a 15-20 minute drive from Kurri Kurri.

Glendoon Patchwork Cottage
17 Bourke St
opposite the entrance to KMart
Maitland

Open Friday 9 - 5 and Saturday 9:30 to 2 pm.

Kerry was watching Sunrise on TV this week. They had a segment about Beecroft House, the shelter we donated 18 quilts to. She spotted some of our quilts on the beds.
The commentary mentioned that the quilts were provided by a local quilting group to welcome the women when they arrived.

Marie Kennedy is helping Moina sort through her stash. Moina has moved into a smaller place and does not have room for all her fabric.
Marie will be bringing some in  each week for us to choose and for Community.

Show and Tell:

A quilt for Community from Christie. We are calling it Chocolate Mint.


 Baby quilt from Robyn S.


 Sheila made a baby quilt. Hot off the press. She just completed the binding before my talk.


 Christie finished her Heart Quilt that she started in Helen's workshop. 
Robyn and Iris took 54 baby quilts to Westmead last week.


Three Baby quilts from Sue D. Elephants are always fun and the puppies cute.





  Alison was looking at stats from our photos on Flickr last week. She found that the most viewed is the Hexagon Flower Garden quilt with 12,230 views. 
The maker - Marie K. What a thrill. Well done Marie.


Until next week ......

Friday 9 August 2019

Bits and Pieces

Hi Everyone,

There seemed to be a lot of news this week.

* Maria Shell visit: 

Maria Shell will be in Sydney to host workshops at Material Obsession over the weekend of September 28 ad 29th.
Maria lives in Anchorage, Alaska. She is an artist and quiltmaker, working mainly with solids.
Her latest book is 'Improv Patchwork: Dynamic Quilts Made with Line and Shape'.

Kathy has suggested that she come to our meeting on September 26 the speak about her work, ideas and methods.

It will be a special treat for us and I am sure we will gain lots of inspiration from her.

* Elva is making pin cushions to be sold at our show next year. Robyn Jns has a friend in Orange who has very kindly given us some sheep wool for the stuffing. It is perfect for pin cushions as the lanolin in the wool prevents rust on the pins and needles. Also it make a solid stuffing for the pins and needles to cling to and not slip out.

* Moina has not been to quilting for a while. She has moved house and has had a bout of pneumonia. However she is coming next week. It will be lovely to see her after such a long time.

* Craft Depot at Pennant Hills:

Heather had an email from Craft Depot to say that all their fabric is $10/metre and machines are half price.

* September is shaping up to be a very busy month:

- Helena's workshop on Thursday September 5 is on free motion quilting
- Our retreat is 6,7,8 September
- Our Birthday party is September 19
- Maria Shell visit, September 26

Show and Tell:
Heart Quilts from Helena's workshop.
Red one from Susan H. and Blue one Jenny, Iris and Marie G.




Two baby quilts from Sheila. Sheila has cut a lot of her scraps into 4 x 2 pieces which is a great idea.



 A 'quilt as you go' cot quilt from Carolyn. Carolyn actually made 4 of them.


 Cot quilt from Robyn Jnst


 Quilt made from 'orphan' blocks for Community from Narelle and Ros


 Another Quilt for Community


A Wagga being made by Jenny


Until next week ......

Friday 2 August 2019

Heart Workshop

Hi Everyone,

Another enjoyable and busy meeting this week.

Helena set up her machine and tables ready for her workshop to make a Heart from scraps, based on Wendy William's "Pieces of my Heart Quilt pattern".

A number of members participated and many of us watched and learned.
It is such a pretty pattern and can be made into wonderful baby and childrens' quilts or a wall hanging or for someone special in your life.

A little competition began! Three in the Blue Group got together to work as a team - Jenny on the machine, Marie G. ironing and Iris cutting. Magnificent coordination! By the end of the day they had completed a large blue heart. Well done!

The workshop was informative and fun. A big thank you to Helena for organising it and to Wendy for her generosity in allowing us to base it on her pattern.

Our Show:

We have a judge for our show next year, Her name is Roseanna Gallo -  OAM JP.
Roseanna is a lady of many talents and will be perfect for our show.

We are supporting the same charities from our last show. Janelle from Day for Girls was absolutely thrilled that we were helping them out again. Every penny that is donated goes into the kits etc for the girls. It is a wonderful charity to support.

Modern Quilt Show - will be held in Kiama from 16-18 August. Both Beryl B. and Grace have quilts in the show. Kiama is an easy trip by train. It would make a fun day out.

Show and Tell:
Four baby quilts from Carolyn






One from Iris , made from leftover blocks from the challenge



Iris set us a challenge to make a pink and white block The quilt below is the result. It is such a pretty quilt.


Until next week ....