More chittering than a scurry of chipmunks

Wednesday was just one of those days, everyone seemed to be talking, laughing and just jollying around, so many projects on the go and all being busily worked on.
Mind you, as soon as the camera comes out they all stop chatting, no-one wants an open mouth pic on the post!

Karen J, with her back to us, was working on the binding of a cute Sudoku quilt.
Karen very kindly gave an impromptu mini class on the construction of her Sudoku quilt using 9 different fabrics,

and being the very clever lass that she is, the same fabrics in a large 9 patch formed the backing.

Sue A presented a tutorial a few years back on a Sudoku quilt, but if you missed it or need a refresher here are a couple of links,
Rose Smith has a youtube video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9_t5DlEhss
with comprehensive instructions here
but if you really want a quilting sudoku challenge, try this one from Moda Bake Shop, http://www.modabakeshop.com/2015/03/sudoku-quilt.html


Julie, who is also a member of the Mooloolah Valley quilting group bought her mystery flimsey along to share,

It was the at the Mooloolah Valley Show and Tell that Wendy was first inspired to present a mystery quilt to our group, and I must say the idea has been enthusically embraced.
Helen T also bought her finished Mystery along

Fae was working on sandwiching another quilt, she already had the cute little bears fabric but a quick trip to the fabric shop was needed to snaffle the other fabrics, including a nicely matched backing.

Fae also had a finished offset squares quilt ready for sharing,

That's Sherrye in the background, helping out Courtney by pressing and cutting her fabrics for the Mystery quilt.


Pat bought her machine along to work on the quilting of her current cutie, 'Catlady', a Coton + Steel pattern by Sarah Watts, Pat was convinced to stay in the main room with the rest of us and it was 'quilt central' most of the day, everyone popped along for a look and a chat.

Quilting progress to date, wanting to use up every little piece of her Japanese cat fabric, Pat pieced the backing for 'Catlady'. Pat ends each quilting line, tying and burrying each thread - no short cuts here!

Karen has been stitching little frock and nicker sets for her newest Grandie, using a Cabbage Patch doll pattern (who remembers those, the dolls and the patterns, the patterns were such a boon to stitching little things for bubbies all those years ago)

beautiful tie backs and edged in lace, Karen even stitched sweet litte roses along the lace on the lavender dress.
Remember that cute little apron Karen made for another Grandie? well lucky lass now has a matching little tote.

Marie has been stitching up a storm,

creating two identical quilts for twin sisters, it's their 21st soon and Marie will have these beauties to gift to them.

A medallion created with 'Sister' sentiments and appliqued roses, edged with (according to Marie, hundreds) of flying geese. Truly a gift to treasure.

Marie was thrilled to find a Derivian marker at Spotlight to use for the verse, comes in different colours and is only $4. You can read about them at.http://www.derivan.com.au/derivan-products/fabricart-marker.html

Jackie shared her latest with us. Lovely vibrant colours, 2.5" strips crosscut and sashed.

The backing was a piece purchased a few years back when the Palmwoods patchwork shop was relocating, of course it was on sale, at a ridiculously low price and Jackie knew she just had to have it, being a little short one end Jackie pieced some more vibrants down the side and voila! another brilliant backing.

Jackie wanted an allover quilting design that didn't detract from the vibrancy of her quilt, and was thrilled with the job Letitia did.
Letitia is growing her longarm quilting business and specialises in quilting all over designs as opposed to pantograph patterns that go edge to edge in a repeat pattern. She prefers to quilt a design that complements your quilt without overpowering the work done by the quilt owner.
If you have the odd flimsey sitting around wishing it was a quilt, speak to Letitia, her rates are most reasonable and she can be reached at:
Letitia Turner
Home Ph. 5476 7351 or
Mob. 0434 829 128

Step 2 reveal of the Mystery quilt, lots of little baggies of finished strips were on display.
Wendy handed out Step 2 instructions and gave a little demo, there were some sneaky questions she managed to answer gardedly so as not to give the game away.

Links to Step 1 instructions can be found in the sidebar.

Sheila is spending some time with the Grandies, took a trip to the wildlife park, but hey, not a Grandie in sight, could be something to do with the crocodile she is holding, reckon we will all be doing a little surreptitious finger counting when she gets back!

In the News...

...well, sorta.
At the last meeting of the B.W.M.C.A. our Cottage rep Sheila was quite tickled to see a reference, with pic, in the report from our local M.P. Steve Dickson to our recent charity quilt push for the drought affected farming families of western Queensland.

We manage to get 16 lovely quilts assembled at short notice to go with the collected toiletries on the next Burrumbuttock Hay Run.
Wendy did a terrific job of machine embroidering the labels as well as stitching them onto a few  of the last minute quilts she was delivering to organiser Pat Morris.

All ready to be packed up and delivered.

Jackie was spotted on L.Q.S.  Kimz facebook last week,making a tuffet.  Yeah, a tuffet, (boy that took me back a few years- you know, little Miss Muffet, sat on... etc) moving on, back to Kimz, Tuffet, etc.
Pics from Kimz facebook, fabric selections, Jackie slaving over a hot machine and getting some help from Terri with the finishing touches.

Kim presents an amazing range of tutors and classes in her store, including 'Tuffet making with Terri'  and I did notice in answer to a readers question that Terri will be doing another class, however, scrolling down Kimz facebook page to re-find the info just got me distracted, so much going on, so many goodies, so many laughs, even some eye opening info, like those little drop down cavities on the front of your machine, not as some thought for storing dust and gizmo's, no, not at all...

Obvious really when you think about it.  Thanks for the 'heads up' Kim.

Jackie shared a pic of her finished Tuffet, legs and all.  Really cute! who wouldn't just love one of these in your sewing corner!

The gals up on the 'quiet and Crazy' table, are all busy as beavers, Michelle is stitching a crazy elephant, he will be framed and hung,

Stella was being facetious about the enormous amount of work done so far on her 'amazingly huge' embroidery piece, there are more stitcheries, and lots of hexies are making an appearance.

 Karen J had a finished quilt to share,

made reversable with the clever use of a crazy patchwork printed backing.

Karen D. was putting the binding on a U.F.O.  - a 35 year old U.F.O!  It's also her very first quilt, a sampler, (aren't most samplers our first?).  

After the birth of her first child, Karen's Sis came to visit, and bought along her current quilting project, Karen was fascinated.  On returning home, Sis, shopped for fabric, patterns, all the needed equipment and parcelled it all off to Karen who hasn't stopped quilting since.  Mind you, it was a bit of a challenge in the early days, Karen was at that time living outback, not too many stores around, certainly no fabric stores within cooee. 

Marlene is also working on a U.F.O. one of the terrific Millamac Australiana patterns, these patterns are getting hard to find, there is a lovely blog post by boot camp quilter, showing some of the patterns, with a link to Quiltessentials in Eatons Hill.

Marlene's version is using raw edge applique with a finishing paint outlining the applique.  'Rudolph' the red nosed kangaroo looks very smart with his gold and glitter outline.

Denise was choosing a binding for this Charity quilt, created with triangles found in the donated boxes of fabric from Derricks darling.  First time stitchine triangles, a challenge conquered.

Talking of challenges, Sue W had a few more secret squirrel entries to our Lyn Ballinger challenge handed in last week.
Nah.  No need to panic, we have heaps of time to the cut off date! just about 2 weeks still to go...GULP!!

 

 If you are one of those folks who don't operate best under pressure, feel free, PANIC!

Perhaps one could make use of Sue's dyeing workshop, paint up a carnival storm.  B.T.W. we will be gathering at 11.30 for a 12.00 start for this workshop.

 Which one? Both!!

News from Pat, enjoying her holiday immensly, going from quilting shop to quilting shop, unable (unwilling?) to choose, can't wait too see what Pat comes home with!