THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 17th - 2015

Hi girls.

Just a quick post this time.

A note that Campbelltown Quilters are having their Biennial Show on the 14 and 15th of November at Campelltown Civic Centre.

Our 33rd birthday party will be this coming Thursday, September, 24th. Bring your 'Jess Challenge' pieces if you have them, and prepare to put your name in the draw for a complimentary movie ticket donated by Giant Steps. They are sending us 5 tickets to a Special Preview Screening of "The Dressmaker", directed by the same director of "How To Make An American Quilt". 

The screening will be on Wednesday, 14th October, at the Hoyts Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park, from 6pm to 9.15pm.

If you are interested in having your name in the draw but can't get to group this week, please let me know by email or phone. I'll also forward on the full email for more info.

Jess has a quilt featured in the current issue of "Quilters Companion", and Jess and Carolyn have quilts featured in coming issues of  "Home Spun Diary". Check them out!

Just the one show and tell piece this week, and it's from Jess - the final finished Wagga she's been working on. Looking stunning!

                              

Cheers everyone. See you at the party!

SEPTEMBER 10th 2015

Hi all. Not a great deal of news to talk about this week, and a very small Show & Tell. Nevertheless, every Thursday get-together is fun.

Just a reminder that next Thursday, 17th is the deadline for contributions towards the Lord Mayor's Picnic Quilt. Hand any remaining ones to Iris so the serious designing can begin. Those that have come in already are very impressive indeed, and it will be fun playing around with the layout. It looks like yet another stunning result for this yearly endeavour!

Thanks to Heather who has donated a set of various sized hexagon plastic templates which came from an elderly lady's quilting room clear-out. They have been placed in the equipment cupboard for general use. Help yourself.

Joy now has only one date in October which is not covered for kitchen duty. I think it's the 18th, but check the dates on the cupboard list to be sure. 

Our 33rd birthday will be celebrated at a party on Thursday, 24th September. Bring a glass and your "Jess lucky dip challenge" item if you did one and still have it! Some people are still working on theirs to add to the mix. Should be fun.

In addition to that, there will be an 'unveiling' of the final version of the Contemporary Quilt. Judy has asked if people can give some thought to a name for the quilt, and we can make that decision at the party. Start having a think.

That's pretty much all of the news. Now for just two items of Show & Tell. It was such a HUGE collection last time that we must have exhausted the supply!

This little baby quilt was made and donated by Barbara Ward, a friend of the group and one of the CWA ladies who comes now and then to collect donated quilts. Thanks Barb! It's really cute.

                                        

The final one is a quilt top done by Joy from a Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt challenge through "Quiltville". A lot of work Joy, and quite stunning. Can't wait to see the final product.

                                         

So there you have it for another week. Look forward to seeing you all again soon.

COMMUNITY THURSDAY - 3/9/15

A good turn out for community day. Plenty of activity throughout the hall. 

We need volunteers to fill the kitchen duty roster for October 8 and 15. So if you haven't done one this year yet and your name isn't down for the rest of the year, check your diary and see if you can't help out. Cheers.

The new edition of the Template Magazine has arrived, together with our membership of the Guild card. Help yourself to a browse of the library copy when next you're at Quilters. 

Thanks to Helen, we now have a new stock of wadding in the cupboard. Thanks Helen!

The Traditional Quilt is still doing the rounds. Thanks to all those who have taken a turn. June did her stint and handed it over this week to Robyn S, so see Robyn next week if you're ready to have a go. Getting near the end of the quilting now! Thanks all.

It was decided that we will celebrate our birthday this year on Thursday, 24th September. We plan to eat drink and be merry, and also have a small 'showing' of the Jess challenge pieces. So on the day, bring along whatever you made from your lucky dip fabric, and a glass to share a celebratory tipple.

Progress is being made towards the purchase of our Accuquilt Go cutting machine. Updates soon!

SHOW AND TELL:

Quite an extensive session this week, so settle back and enjoy the show!

First off, we saw three gorgeous new baby quilts for the Grace Centre. These will be much appreciated.

                               

Next came a collaboration between Val and Iris to put together a 'doggy' themed quilt for the community collection. Very cute indeed.

                                       

Iris then showed three quilts done for the community collection by Pamela R (a previous member). Very lovely work they are too.

       

           

                                       

Iris then showed a block of the month quilt she has done from the Flower Garden. The quilting is a major feature and is beautiful. 

                                

Helen displayed a quilt she has made for her daughter-in-law who has just returned from a trip to Europe, which explains the themed fabric. Gorgeous.

                               

The next quilt displayed was by Jenny B from her "How Fragile" quilt series (see the current issue of the Template page 9 for the full article). Some fascinating concepts. The fabric details and history in this quilt demonstrate the depth of feeling and memory in historic quilts. Thanks Jenny.

                            

And the spectacular showing went on.....

Below is a labyrinth quilt done by Karen. This took everyone's breath away by its outstanding design and fantastic construction!

         

It's another one of Karen's which needs to be seen (up close) to be believed! Outstanding!

Next Jessica showed a fabulous Wagga to add to the collection. Quite a stunning result. Well done Jess.

                             

Jess followed this up with a quilt done at a workshop by Deb Laurie on machine quilting. A very nice result it is too.

                                

Finally Margaret D showed a quilt top put together in a week by Maree K from blocks Margaret says she made years ago. Sometimes it takes a friend to help bring old favourites back to life! Lovely result.

                              

Well, as I said at the start, it was a mega show and tell week. A veritable feast of quilts!

So, for now that's all folks! See you all again soon. Cheers.

27th August 2015

BACK FROM THE RETREAT!

All participants enjoyed a great weekend away in Blackheath. Below you can see some of the work completed during the three days, and proudly displayed back at the group.

Ros's beautiful star......

                               

Laurel's counter-change blue and whites......

                                

Jenny's beautifully coloured strippy  bits....

Elva's Kaffe tube technique squares......

                             

Heather's bright community quilt......

                              

Another Heather number, this time a mystery quilt challenge.....

                               

And Hayley's gorgeous Dolly and Me interactive quilt......

                               

Gill's cute stripey animal squares quilt.....

                                

And lastly, an example of Jenny's handy bags from strips.

                                 

In addition we had two small quilts made back home.

The first by Karen, a lovely design.......

                                    

And next one for the baby quilt collection by Maree K. Check out the very cute backing fabric as well.....

                                     

                                     

A small group today, but lots of fun working together as always!

Cheers till next time.

23rd August 2015 POSTSCRIPT

Oops! Forgot these two cuties. Had to rotate them so they were forgotten.

Check out this entire quilt when you get a chance at group. It defies belief. So much work, so outrageously cute! I challenge you to STOP playing around with its bits and pieces once you start!

Redleaf Resort - Blackheath 21-23rd August 2015

A happy group of 19 Wanderers made their way to Blackheath this weekend, and enjoyed many hours of stitching, quilting, cutting, designing etc etc.

Without the usual interruptions of home duties and chores, we were able to stay at what we love as long as we wished. Absolutely spoiled with afternoon and morning teas delivered to our quilting room annex and delicious breakfasts and dinners prepared for us, there was no need to think about anything but the craft. To top it all off, we were surrounded by friends and fellow crafters to share ideas, hints, advice and congratulations. 

Much incidental chatting about family, experiences, travel and anything else you could name, made for hours of warm companionship. Some fun games, a little Tai Chi to loosen tired and stiff limbs, trips out to favourite places in the mountains and pre-dinner drinks relaxing around a roaring fire topped off an outstanding weekend away.

Thank you to all the participants for your contribution to the retreat, and particular thanks to Deb L for arranging and managing the entire event so well. You did a splendid job!

Below are some shots taken during the three days. If you haven't ever done a retreat, or haven't done one for a while, you might give some thought to joining us next year. Enjoy the shots, and thanks once again ladies for your friendship and companionship.