Friendship Quilts and the story behind 'Everlasting Friendship'

A very special meeting for us this week bringing together some of the ladies who created the blocks used in our raffle quilt 'Everlasting Friendship' from the friendship quilt swap way back in....well, a few years ago shall we say.

As is often the case with Friendship quilts, indeed with many quilts - after all, where would we be without our collective collections of UFO's?- Beryl never managed to form her needle turn applique blocks into a quilt, preferring instead to keep them in a safe place, perhaps taking them out from time to time to pet, pat and admire, until current times when downsizing meant finding a new home for her blocks, which is how our group managed to have the blocks given to us.
Unfortunately Beryl wasn't able to join us today, so her Darling, Allan came along as her representative.

Standing in front of both raffle quilts, some of the original swap group, from left to right, is Fae, Jan, Dorothy, Rose, Jill, Allan and Joyce.
There were a few missing faces, times change and folks move on and up but there were many happy stories so that those missing were rememberd and 'introduced' to those of us who had not met them.

We were treated to some lovely Show and Tell from our Guests, Jan showed off her love of Crazy Patch along with some other patchwork pieces.

Kangaroo wallhanging with the curved piecing showcasing the colours of Australia, the red center, dusty deserts, greens of the bush, purples of mountain ranges, not forgetting the vibrant blues of both sky and seas with of course the sporting Kangaroo.
More examples of Jan's work, the wonderful fabric flowers that she is renowned for creating, a lovely appliqe linnen tunic top, a reverse applique wallhanging of snowflake designs and a W.I.P. of the cutest lady Giraffe, Jan has used tiny black buttons running down her neck to depict the mane.

Another WIP from a workshop Jan did, the leaf is about to be framed.  More of Jan's flowers adorning a Crazy Patch cushion and a Christmas stocking worked with beautifl Crazy Patch using lots of lace and flowers.

Jill bought along her Crazy Patch teddy with the crinkled nose and told us the story of entering her lovely bear in a show only to have the judges write back that although they loved the work, they weren't impressed with the wrinkly nose....a nose Jill had gone to quite some effort to achieve!

Rose had her journal of the first ever quilt assembled by Cottage members in 1986, before there was a patchwork group.  The quilt was raffled and won by a Brisbane male nurse, Andrew Tucker.  Andrew was from a local family and the quilt was in the family home here in Buderim until recently and is still in the families posession. 
The quilt was named the 'Buderim Cottage Quilt No. 1'.  Not only because it was made by Cottage members but also because of the local cottages and historical buildings Rose used for design  inspiration of the appliqued cottages in the quilt.
Pages from Rose's Journal, thats Rose on the left admiring the finished quilt.

Another pic of the finished quilt taken from Rose's Journal.

The day started off with the Girls who are working on June's 'Pinwheel' workshop discussing various setting out designs and quilt sizes.....
Marguerite has decided to stick with the current size of her flimsey, setting the whole on point with some lovely vibrant green fabric.

Christine is also trying out the on point setting idea, using fabric from some of the pinwheels for continuity

As you can see, all those in the discussion think it's looking pretty swish.

Marcia was also getting advice on her pinwheels, she has opted to make a larger size, using more colours.  Gee, doesn't the fabric stick well to the back of the vinyl tablecloth? By the by, that tablecloth is from Marcia and her Darlings caravan, and the pinwheels I hear are to make a replacement tablecloth for the van...how special will that be!.

Heather and Catti have their pinwheels a little further on, sandwiched and ready to be quilted.

Spotted Wendy having a little sticky at the back of Catti's quilt.....what could it be? a great label?

Yep!, Catti used her printer to print out the words and then embroidered over the printing, adding a little posy of suffolk puffs...
which brings us to the front of the quilt...Catti is flying home this year and wanted a boquet for her Daughter.  She has created this special Topiary wall hanging to be delivered in person.

Using suffolk puffs on the Topiary and in the vine border, with lots of lovely needleturn leaves topped off by bluebirds.  Catti crosshatched the center of the quilt but had her first ever go at stippling in the border.

A couple of years ago Lyn was lucky enough to be holidaying in Sweden, where she saw, and of course bought, a length of fabric with a printed design of Swedish Horses.  Lyn had the idea of making a tablecloth......Well, Lyn wasn't that fussed on just running a hem around the fabric and calling it quits, over the past two years she has used the Broderie Perse method to applique the Swedish Horses to a length of fabric, and using more horses has created a table runner for the center of the table.

The pic is a little misleading, the cloth is folded in half and just the end is in the pic, it is rather a large cloth, and you see why it took 2 years to complete!
Lyn has decided that all the Grandies are getting pillows for their birthday this year - yes they all have quilts- so cushions to follow.  Using a pattern from Kelli Wolfshon Lyn has created the first cushion for her 2year old Grandaughter's birthday.

Betty spotted an appealing quilt design in a magazine piccie, and decided to re-create the same design, using these vibrant fabrics, well she tells us this is the 3rd effort at getting the design right.  Sometimes the simple looking designs just aren't.

Betty went for a simpler design to create this apricot Quilt of Love, and Andrea used one of the Machine Embroidered pannels unearthed by Sheila last week to make the blue quilt.

While Inge stitched and created these two purple and lemon Q.O.L's with the cutest little baby Dragon motifs.
Afternoon tea was a special affair in honour of the occasion, lots of yummy food, sweet and savoury.

A blast from the past and Julies tinsy hexies

 If you are one of the early birds to read today's blog, there has been a whopper of a mistake.....Pop down to the bottom to read about Wendy's Library Bags...........not only has there been help making those wonderful bags but more help is needed.  And to the wonderful Machine Embroiders Group who made the bags........so, so sorry for my mistake.

Noticed Marcia and Meg in a huddle over one of the magazines Marcia had bought in to share around, Meg flipped it around to show.........It was an article in Down Under Quilts on the 1988 Caloundra Quilt Show, and there, in pride of place, was a pic of Meg's quilt!

Inspired by a quilt designed by Barbara  (?? gosh...how embarrasement...I have misplaced the ladies name.  I will add it as soon as I find it again- sorry.) and based on a log cabin block, it was a very heavy quilt.  When Meg dropped it off to be hung she mentioned to the co-ordinators that it was heavy........little did they realise just how heavy.  It just about bought down the house....literally.  I bet there is someone out there who can fill in that story!
Meg no longer has the quilt........it is one of the many that she has given away.
The pic was taken by B.A. Moore

We were all very interested to see Julie arrive today, clutched under her arm was a 'square' surrounded by bubble wrap.  Yep!, it is her finished wall hanging.  Some of you may remember pics in the past of the tinsy little hexies that Julie has been working on, all to create this wonderful piece. It has been stretched over a frame ready to hang in what is becoming quite a modern trend on quilted wall hangings.

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Some closer views of the 'vine and pot'

Heather bought along her current flimsey, borders are the next step for this vibrant kiddies quilt, though Heather spent today knitting tinsy things, yep, good guess, Heather has a new grandie in her near future.

Sue was back with us today, lots of excitement in her world with goodies arriving and being unpacked, it's amazing what you find..........and just how long ago did you start these place mats Sue????

 Sue also bought along her recently completed 'stars and clouds' quilt in blues and white with splashes of yellow, to share with us.

Janice was presenting a workshop on wrist pincushions, Marcia was particularly taken by the cardboard barrier to prevent pins sliding through into the wrist.........didn't stop someone (who will remain nameless) from grabbing the cushion for a better look and sticking themselves on the needle though!

Catti came prepared - and with a brilliant idea - pop a curly girl (or a stainless steel scourer if you don't come from my neck of the woods) into the center of the wadding.  Keeps the pins sharp!!

Sheila had a go at the disappearing 9-patch when it was all the go in our group, and wound up with this little orphan, she teamed it with a pretty floral border and backing and...viola, a pretty cushion for your sewing room.

Caught Jan doing some extremely scientific and accurate measuring, not just once but twice, and then she was off, more crocheting to be done.

More needlework in the 'creating' phase, Marguerite left this pretty block lying on the table, just had to bring you a pic of it and Christine is back-stitching around the design on a sweet quilt panel.

Wendy has been busy making Library bags for some school children, with their names embroidered to boot.  Wow! Lucky kiddies.
My humble apologies to the lovely Ladies from the Machine Embroidery Group for the inaccurcies of the Library bag story.  
The Machine Embroidery Group was asked to make Library bags for 30 children, names were supplied and as you can see, the Ladies got out their machines and promptly created these lovely bags.  

As we all know, Ipswich was one of the many badly flood affected areas, and these bags are off to one of the schools in the area.  There is now a request for another 60 bags for another 2 schools, no names this time, so Wendy bought some of the finished bags along to Show and ask the Patchwork group if they would also be willing to create some bags as there is a rather small time window to have them completed by.  

The bags will need to be handed in to Wendy by Wednesday 30th. March, just 2 weeks away!!

Each Library bag needs to measure 16" x 18" with a double pull cord closure.  They don't have to be lined and any strong fabric is fine, including the rubber backed curtain fabric as some bags could then be used for 'wet bags' for swimming activities.  Wendy has also suggested that you could use any orphan patchwork or applique blocks to decorate the front of the bags.  

Hopefully we can all pull together and present a pile of lovely baggies to Wendy for these little kiddies who have lost so much.

Inspiration from the 2010 Winter Olympics

 

Back in February, Catti was thinking about making a 'Log Cabin' quilt she had been wanting to try for awhile, but what colour scheme to use??, she got great inspiration from all the colours of the advertising banners and flags of the 2010 Winter Olympics held in Vancouver this year.  A graceful flowing of curves in blues, aqua's and greens, and so Catti's Olympic Log Cabin was born.

And in honour of the impressive Swiss medal tally of 6 gold medals and 3 bronze medals won by her home country's sportsmen and women, Catti created a very impressive label for her stunning quilt

Occasionally, for whatever the reason, the camera just doesn't capture a quilt as well as it should, this quilt sings,  I'm sorry that the pic doesn't do it justice.

Jan bought in some of her pieces that decorate her home to show a couple of lasses at her table, in a former life these lovelies were used as samples in classes that Jan has taught, luckily Sheila spied them and popped them on to the Show and Tell table, otherwise we may have missed out!!

A sumptuous crazy patched Christmas Stocking and Miss Puss, who just lounges around the house, here and there.

More of Jan's Crazy Patchwork, using lots of gold thread and braid and an artful use of some pretty  buttons

 This Montmellic piece was stuffed down in the bottom of the bag, and almost got missed.  It got lots of ooh's and ahh's I can tell you.

Ja` bought in a rather cute little doll, Swiss made, to show Catti.  Along the way, we all had a cuddle, with  Winifred giving us a demo on just how cute and life like the little doll is, at first glance you could take it for a baby, it lays so life like.

Spied Julie's progress with the insy tinsy hexagons, but the decision was that they needed a light background to show them off properly, Catti to the rescue, she draped one of the fabrics Julie is using over her shoulder, arranging it just so...

beautifully displayed!

And then time for Arvo Tea, Apple Strudel, Orange Cake, Date and Nut Loaf and a Sweet Potato Bread, yummmo again!! all beautifully set off with a vase of fresh herbs.

Disappearance Fever

The girls certainly have an attack of Disappearance fever, quilts and flimseys are appearing weekly.
Marie had some lovely border print in her stash that she was unsure how to use, inspiration hit with the disappearing 4 patch block that Marcia sent us last week, and so, today, we have a disappearing 4patch quilt.
Marie made the blocks rather large, so the quilt went together very quickly. There are only 6 blocks in the quilt, 2 blocks across and 3 blocks down. How fast is that for a stunning quilt!.
Wendy introduced some of the group members to the disappearing 9 patch in today's class, bringing along a couple of items for inspiration.....
...the cunning 'I Spy' layout above and just because we are also into Crazy Patch, this combination of Disappearing 9 patch with Crazy Patch blocks, cool huh?....
Wendy is also a member of the Machine Embroidery group, which explains the wonderful machine stitches she has used on her beautiful bag.
All the instructions given, all the cutting done and its stitchin' time, Ja` and Christine getting their first squares done.
Wandering back to put another 2 stitches in my 'bring along project' I passed this flimsey, just sort of laying on the table, gave it a little pat whilst admiring the beautiful fabrics, who did it belong to?, no one laid claim, it was a case of 'I don't know' all round.
The show and tell table held this really cute bag, no problems finding the owner, Sue put her hand up very quickly, it had been a kit gifted to her by her sisters. The fabric has a printed hexagon pattern, the braid handles have an unusual edging, lovely and soft but still strong.
Jan is working on this adorable bear, he is currently 'nose-less', and that's not all........
turn him over and lift his jacket, and its there for all to see, his stuffing.... in plain view......
Jan was making this darling for her Daughter, but has decided to make a larger version. Jan tells me that her daughter once had a teddy, a cute, large, lovely teddy, and he, well, he sort of got misplaced, lost, dare I say it....sent off to teddy heaven!
Daughter has lamented the loss of her teddy for awhile now, 40 years actually. Jan has decided - enough is enough - a new teddy her daughter shall have....just not this one.

My two stitches done, went off to see what else was happening, Beryl had finished her blocks and was getting some expert help on placement from Marie, Jan and Gwen
The workshop was going great guns, Marie joined Lorraine and Wendy for a quick discussion on the various layouts that you can achieve with the disappearing 9 patch block.
A few pics of the various stages of those disappearing 9 patches, as you can see, they do just disappear.
Lorraine and Ja`, happy with the way Ja`'s blocks are coming together.
Lorraine dropped a pin on the floor, and promptly used her scissors to pick it up, have you ever done this?, most scissors - no, not all - (I tested a few), but most are slightly magnetic and will collect up a pin that you have dropped on the floor, no more bending right down to the floor while sitting on a wheeled chair and having the rotter shoot out behind you........nasty shock that!
What have we here?, that flimsey has made it onto a screen.........and there is quite the gathering around it, and a bit of 'well, we elect you!' going on.........
Sue assembled this ever so pretty quilt to be, using beautiful Bali Pops, in Greens, greys and golden browns with sky blue splashes. Wonderful Forest colours..........
Just like these actually..................Yep, 2011 is the International Year of Forests.....and as some of you know.....2011 is our next quilt show year.
and of course we always raffle two quilts...........
'Forest' will be quilted by Fiona from the Quilting Fairy, with design input from Sue, but who will be making the label?, who will sandwich and pin?, who will be stitching down the binding in ever so neat tiny little stitches?

Then there are these, beautifully done reverse applique blocks have been donated to us, just the ticket to start the second quilt.......
Gwen, Betty, Sue, Sheila and Jeanette were in hot discussions over layout, colours, and quilting designs to incorporate these beautiful blocks into a stunning quilt...........stay tuned.......it will be another beauty, betcha!
Arvo tea I hear was lovely, when I made it to the table there were a few lettuce leaves, 1/4 of a sanger and a few anzac biccies..........I really have got to get there faster! - the 1/4 sanger was great though, thoroughly enjoyed it!