Happy Birthday

Hi Everyone,

The Hunters Hill Quilters celebrated our 37th Birthday this week. The group started in 1982 and has been going ever since. We were fortunate to have two of the original members with us as well, Carolyn and Margaret.
In fact they arrived just as we started to sing Happy Birthday. Pretty good timing!

We had another busy day this week. It started with our Show Committee meeting at 9 a.m. We are underway with bookings etc ready for our show next August. There is a lot to do.

Sandy brought in a huge bunch of Continental Italian parsley for us to share and the kitchen was in very safe hands with Heather and Joy in charge. Ann also contributed two slices. Everything was delicious.

The Crafts and Stitches team is hosting the Newcastle Show from September 26 - 29 in the Newcastle Entertainment Centre,  Broadmeadow. Hours are from 10 am to 4 pm each day.

Hayley joined us this week and showed us photos of her 'new' island home in the Torres Strait. I hope she can visit us again before she goes back.

A big thank you to Kerry and Narelle for providing the beautiful cakes and drink for the Birthday.The table looked so pretty as you can see from the photo.

Baby quilt from June.

Baby quilt from Robyn S.

 Two lovely ladies with their medals. It was Helena's first marathon! What an achievement.
Akiko ran the half marathon and came first in her age group. She was disappointed that her time was just a tad over last time, but an hour and a half sounds pretty amazing to me!
Congratulations to you both.

Three baby quilts from Carolyn.

There was another baby quilt from Robyn that was made from orphan blocks leftover from a show quilt.
It has mysteriously disappeared!  I will take another photo for next week.

Until next time ....

Sunny Day

Hi Everyone,

After being so early last week, I am late this week. A busy weekend.

We had a really happy retreat last weekend at Kurri Kurri. 25 members came and lots of sewing was accomplished.
Suzie had us decorating items to be sold at our show next year. Some girls shared - one sewing and the other decorating which worked very well.
The Fat Quarter game this year was particularly fun. Two black and white fabrics were fought over by a number of us and a good time was had by all.
The weather was sunny but very windy and we didn't see as many kangaroos as last year.

A great big thank you to Narelle for organising everything perfectly. Narelle even had the staff at Kurri Kurri onside and singing her praises.

Iris brought along the box of 'orphan' blocks. Many girls tried their hand, sorting and trying various options. The end result was fantastic.
At our meeting Iris told us who had made which block. Lots of fun.

Our Birthday party is next week. Bring along a glass and we will have cake. I believe we are 37 years old which is a wonderful achievement.

We will have a show committee meeting at 9 am next week in the hall. There is quite an agenda, so come prepared.

Moina called in to stay for a while this week. It was lovely to see her after a long absence. She hopes to come more regularly from now on.

Show and Tell:

Iris and a quilt she is working on and part of the 'orphan' quilt being constructed.

A baby quilt from June. So soft and pretty.

Susan H. made her heart quilt from Helena's workshop into a baby quilt.

Susan D. made a baby quilt. The elephant block and the 5 squares were all from the box of orphan blocks.

Karen M. made this baby quilt. Lovely colours.

Gill finished putting together a bag which Suzie will sell at the show.

Iris made these mice for Robyn and her charities. Unbelievably cute!

Narelle made this cot quilt to be donated to a charity. The cats look super!

First go at the orphan quilt. Lots of hard thinking going on here.

 Another photo from the retreat. Debbie U. took the photo above and below. Lovely to see the kangaroos. Thank you Debbie.

Until next week ....

Early Blog this week

Hi Everyone,

We have our quilting retreat this weekend, so I am doing the blog before I go.

Thank you Helena for the free motion quilting workshop today. It was a pity more members didn't attend but it is awkward for many to bring along their machines.
Susan H. and I learnt a lot and tried hard. Not easy but requires a lot of practice.

Iris spent a lot of time sorting one of the cupboards. Grace and Debbie A. told us about a workshop that they had attended at Material Obsession where they started on a traveller's quilt.

It is a great idea. Collect fabric, cottons etc on your travels then start off with a  piece of fabric. Handstitch pathways etc to make a quilt record of your travels adding bits and pieces that you find along the way.

Thank you Lindy for the avocadoes and bananas from your farm.. They are always a welcome surprise.

Show and Tell:

Two baby quilts from Alison's friend. The check fabric was donated to us by the Miranda Patchwork shop. It is very soft and perfect for young skin.

Two baby quilts from Lindy.

Retreat news next week .....

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 ....

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 ......

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 ......

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 ......