6th August - JUST TWO WEEKS TILL THE RETREAT!

Farewell to Janet!

All the girls present last Thursday wished Janet good luck with her move, and a request for visits whenever she finds herself in Sydney. Janet cut into her cake (kindly organised by Grace) and thanked all for the support of the group. We all sipped some champagne to cheer her on her way, and much emotion was felt. Best wishes from us all Janet. Keep in touch, and happy times ahead with your family.

                                  

                                  

Deb talked about the retreat which will be in just two weeks from now. We're all looking forward to a stretch of time where there are few distractions from our projects. Deb mentioned to bring a fat quarter wrapped for a lucky dip. This will be used in a new fat quarter game to be played this year. Apart from that, just get yourself there ASAP on Friday, and work can start in the main room even if it's before booking-in time. Can't wait!

As it was Community Day last Thursday, there was lots of community project work going on. As well, there were lots of community quilts on show for SHOW AND TELL:

For the Motor Neurone Disease Walk-a-thon raffle, the first is by Jenny 

                                  

and the next by Henny and Iris

                                  

Orange Group made the next quilt for the community collection from fabric donated by The Macquarie Hospital. It was designed by Grace

                                

Another Orange Group quilt made from Akiko's mum's donated silk fabric. Fabulous!

                              

Grace made the following baby quilt after the counter-change workshop last week.

                              

Gil put together another counter-change inspired quilt, this time from wool for the Wagga collection.

                             

Robyn S made this lovely quilt for her sister from fabric she had and some her sister had. A nice collaboration!

                                

And finally, Janet showed a quilt she's been working on for quite a while, fittingly ready for her final day with us. It is for her great-grand daughter and is covered in appliqué flowers. Gorgeous!

                                 

So another day passed, and Spring comes steadily closer. I think we're all ready for that!

Cheers till next time.

30th July - FULL HOUSE!

Firstly, thanks to Grace and Iris for taking care of business last week while I was away. It's so good to know there are always capable hands ready to step in. What a great group we have!

The hall was again very full and active. Grace conducted a popular and informative workshop on the techniques used to make her counter-change quilt shown last week. It was a great success, with many girls vowing to have ago at it themselves, now that they know how. I'm one of them! Thanks so much Grace. We all admire and value your expertise and your generosity in sharing knowledge and skills. 

Kerry actually tried it out there and then, and proudly showed her efforts at show and tell time.

                                        

Well done Kerry. Small but perfectly formed! And below is Grace's quilt that sparked all the interest last week.

                                          

Gorgeous!

Notice was given of the Mosman Barn Quilters show coming up in September.

There was a lovely thank you letter from Inala for the quilt which we donated earlier in the year. 

Details of the required theme for the Lord Mayor's Raffle Quilt were revealed. Sounds very interesting. Can't wait to get started.

And, very exciting, we finally have a volunteer prepared to take on the Show Co-ordinator position with me. Thanks so much Meg. It's a huge load off my mind to know there will be at least two of us talking on the complex job. Should be a piece of cake now!

Lots of nice things to show at SHOW AND TELL. Here  goes............

Robyn J is off to Alice Springs with three fabulous quilts to donate. The first was done by a friend of June and Iris

                                 

With a very nice backing fabric, making it almost reversible!

                             

The next was by Helena and Jess. Spectacularly colourful!

                                 

And lastly one by Margaret D. What can we say but wow!

                                    

Next came four quilts being donated to the Sunshine charity. Firstly by Narelle (again I say wow!)

                                  

Then came one by Jenny - a beauty!

                                    

Another by Narelle. Busy girl!

                                   

And finally an old favourite pattern 'Card Trick' by Helen. Very nicely designed!

                                  

Ros next showed a lovely quilt she's been working on for a while. Just needs the binding finished. She pointed out that the backing fabric was made from old curtain fabric! Just goes to show - 'waste not,want not'! Lovely result Ros. Well done!

                                      

                                     

Beryl R next showed us a 'huge' quilt which she has made for her daughter in Tassie. It was apparently designed by Carolyn and quilted by Grace, so a real group effort. Must be an enormous bed, and a lucky daughter.  It's lovely!

                                      

Last but not least, Maree G showed a 'kit' quilt done for her second son. Very nice indeed.

                                       

So, there you have it. Another busy, productive week. Next week is community day, so unless you have urgent individual work to complete, please feel free to ask Iris and her team what needs to be done. I know there are community projects on the go which will be worked on as well. Enjoy whatever you do. That's what it's all about after all. See you on Thursday.

A day without Elva

Life just got in the way of Elva's quilting this week,  so Grace gave us our weekly update and Iris on the blog.

We received a lovely letter of thanks from Sarah Potter at the Dept. of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care at the Westmead Children's hospital.   You may remember we donated a quilt for their fund raising.  The raffle raised over $1600 which will go towards their palliative care equipment pool.     This is the quilt that we gave them:

Flower Garden

Because of a lovely show and tell quilt from Grace, discussion led to 'persuading' Grace to give an impromptu workshop next week on how to make the quick and easy Counterchange block.   So if you would like to participate you can bring your own fabrics - 20cm. strips of two contrasting fabrics - or help yourself from the cupboard.

The Counterchange block

This is how Grace showcased panels in her quilt top with Counterchange Blocks

and more 'Show and Tell  ..

A quilt by Susan St.J, who used a blanket as wadding

another Grace original ... made 'this morning' we were told !  A colourful cover for her new tablet.

Strips and Stripes by Jenny: all finished and given to Community 

and the completed Christmas Challenge quilt:   thank you to Helena for the quilting - perfect.

Stars in our garden

and finally  ...  in case you haven't checked out the other pages of the blog recently:  both the Challenges and Community pages are all up to date.

Have a good week  ...  See you Thursday,  Cheers Iris

16th July 2015

Greètings again!

It was a freezing and wet Thursday last, but nevertheless much was achieved. 

The Show committee had a very fruitful meeting before coming over to the main group. Lots of aspects of our 2016 show were nutted out and decided upon, many based on the results of our feedback survey of the previous weeks. Thanks everyone for your efforts in giving so many great ideas and useful information. Progress is definitely being made. And thanks to those who have stepped forward to pledge support with all the work and specific jobs that will come up. Looking good!

Many thanks to Jacky Smith for volunteering to fill the Librarian role now that Janet is moving north! We will only have Janet's company for a few more weeks, and Jacky has quickly stepped in for us. Much appreciated. Being close table buddies and friends, the briefing and hand-over should go very smoothly. Thanks ladies.

We had a veritable 'flood' of baby quilts this week. Many had been produced ready for last week's binding workshop, so that may explain it. Whatever, the Grace Centre benefits, and so do the little ones and their mums. One of our show decisions was that the mini-challenge be a display of Grace Centre quilts, so we can showcase the particular cause and explain the background. Feel free to work on some particularly spectacular ones if you wish. It will be an extra surprise corner of the show. Another winner with the viewers I suspect.

Here are today's group for delivery soon:

                                  

                                 

                                  

                                  

                                 

                                   

                                   

                                   

                                    

                                     

                                     

                                     

And the clever quilters of all these were (with a bit of luck in this order!) Helen, Jess and Maddie, Helena, Robyn S, Narelle and Ros, and finally Hayley! Well done. What a pile for the babies!

The next quilt is being made by Susan H for a silent auction at her grand daughter's school. Let's hope it makes them lots of money! Well done. Very good of grandma to go to all this effort.......

                                   

Joy showed us her tiny "Jess Challenge" result. Very cute. I'm impressed that these are still coming in. I'm sure Jess is also. Maybe a pot-holder?

                                    

The final two quilts were done by Helen (as if she hasn't had enough to do!) and she hasn't decided on where they will end up and with whom. Some lucky recipient. Grandchild I'd bet...........

I think both were done by the 'quilt as you go' method. Hope I've got all this right Helen. Feel free to scold me if I'm wrong. Tricky to admire the quilts, take photos and scribble notes at the same time, (whinge, whinge.......)

                                    

                                     

Well, another Thursday passes. How quickly this year is flying! Wait, I think I say that every year.......

Remember how slowly time went when you were a kid waiting for the next birthday or Christmas? Seemed to creep by for ever. Can't be our age can it? Naaaaaaah........

See you next time!

BINDING WORKSHOP OPPORTUNITY!

Thank you to Helen and Susie for holding a wonderful binding workshop for all comers! Very generous of you, and extremely useful to many who dropped in at various stages. I think everyone who attended learned quite a few new tricks. Here are some shots of the gathering:

        

         

         

                                    

                                     

Congratulations to Joy on her 11th grandchild, and welcome to Olga who came to check out the group this week.

Deb reminded us that it is only six weeks now till our retreat at Blackheath. Places still available, but let Deb know ASAP.

SHOW AND TELL

Kerry showed a very cute quilt just finished for her 4 year old grandson. It will be given to him on the arrival of his new baby, expected very soon. Both quilts have matching star backs! No sibling rivalry there then!

                                  

Margaret D showed a lovely counter-change quilt in gorgeous brown and beige. A timeless design that always comes off so well!

                                  

Beryl B showed this spectacular quilt in black and white, with a hint of brown. Designed she says, by her grandson and his girlfriend! Very nice design indeed! Needless to say the quilt is for them.

                                  

Jess and her daughter Maddie showed a lovely blue toned baby quilt which will be for The Grace Centre. Beautifully done Maddie! It helps to have such a talented mum to give you a hand too!

                                    

And finally Robyn J made this following quilt for the community collection. It was quilted by Helena. Cute use of doggie fabric. Very nice !

                                  

Well done everyone. Another fine collection of work. 

See you all next week.

Keep warm and out of the wind if you can.