It's all about the small and the busy...

...there seems to be a few 'story' quilts surfacing these days,Wendy has fallen in love with this one from the February edition of Homespun magazine.

Created by Natalie Bird of 'The Birdhouse',
So far, progress for Wendy has been choosing the fabrics, always a bit more involved than you first think!, so looking forward to watching this lovely evolve.
If you want an easy way to get the Homespun digital editions, you can catch up with the past editions and subscribe over at Zimio
While we were drooling over Wendy's fabric choices, someone mentioned a lovely little quilt that has been creating quite a fuss in the quilting world for some time now, Jen Kingwall's 'My Small World'. 
Marcia immediately popped up this pic on her ipad for us to wonder at and drool over...

Yep, her very talented daughter Leanne has created her version of 'My Small World'.  You can pop over to Leanne's blog and see her pic of this wonderful quilt.  Leanne is yet to quilt her top but if you subscribe to her blog no doubt you will be able to see the finished quilt in the near future, after all, it is listed on her 100 days to finish challenge!

Chatting about finishing...

Karen was snapped last Thursday night, finishing her reels of thread holder, a U F O of 18 years.  Gotta love a finish.

Marie V. shared this innovative Q.A.Y.G, I Spy quilt with us, wonky log cabins, with the cutest prints at the center, alternated with diagonal strip blocks.

 Some of those cute little prints.

Marie's design gave Patricia a lightbulb moment, she has some nice little prints herself that she would love to use, this design is just perfect!

Courtney is making great progress with her table runner, getting a little guidance here from Mary. 

Some of the gals have been tripping around on boats, large boats, well cruise ships really, and having a wonderful time of it if these eye glasses are anything to go by.

spotted them on the notices table and just had to share the giggle!

Sue W, who just loves applique, created a this wallhanging for a special friend living over in W.Aus. 

Posted off before it could be shared with us, Sue was delighted to receive this pic from her friend, who couldn't believe her luck when she walked into the LQS and spotted the perfect hanger.

Susie A, one of those who has been floating about, took a piece of her beautiful hand dyed fabric with her to create her entry into the Fiber Arts group challenge of course couldn't take a pic of the entire WIP- that would be giving too much away to the Fiber Art gals, but did manage to get some snips of the lovely fabric.

Sue, who used to have her own fabric dyeing business will be presenting a fabric dyeing class to our group in May.  Really looking forward to seeing some beautiful creations.

Marcia, was busily putting the finishing stitches into the binding on this very special quilt.

For her Grandaughters new baby.  Yep Marcia is going to be a Great Granny!!!, not once but twice!!

Yes, two of her Grandaughters are expecting bubbies this year......oooh, can't begin to tell you of the envy around the table when that topic popped up!

Lots of lovely I Spy fabric sashed with plains, a brilliant combination of the busy and the restful.

Sheila snapped some of the girls at work last Thursday night to share with us,

Marlene  getting more 'kites' ready. Gluing faster than tacking?

 

Leanne finally onto the binding of her 1 inch square large quilt

 Thank you Sheila.

Fae had another one of her lovley quilts to share with us.

 and yes, that is Sheila hiding behind the quilt!, talk about a scrunched down leader!

Rita was one of the gals giving us our afternoon tea, and bought her cake along in this very snazzy holder.

The handle threads through two loops for an easy closure, when not in use the entire carrier lays flat for storage, could even do double duty as a table runner?

Sheila had a 'memory lane' pic to share with us, she took 3 of her Granddaughters to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane a few weeks ago, she took their dads there about 40 years ago.

Atrium Glimpses, Steep Learning Curve and busy fingers make light work...

Some renovations being done at the Cottage at the moment, pics to follow as it's a bit behind closed doors - not secret squirrel behind closed doors, closed doors to stop anyone forgetting and tramping footprints over the newly sealed floor, and of course with a newly sealed floor comes fumes.

It was decided to make use of the patio, shaded very nicely by its new fixed awning.  A lot of work from a lot of people, including members of our Management Committee went into getting this awning not to mention the financial help from Councilor Christian Dickson, to whom we are very grateful.
While you sit outside, you can glance into the Atrium for a view of the many inspirational items for sale by the members of the 12 groups that make up the Cottage

Of course, couldn't resist wandering around and taking a few pics of Patchwork Groups offerings.

Hexagon Bouquet by Pat

 

Assorted Table Runners, bags, place mats and pot mitts from different members.

Rocking chair loaded with lovelies.

 How lucky we are to have this amazing facility to sell our creations.

First order of business for the day was a workshop organised by Sue to thread drawstrings through the many Toiletry Bags made for Najidah, the emergency accommodation service for families affected by Domestic Violence, as you can see, all heads down and busy, busy!

Christine bought along her Scotty Dog, who will shortly be winging his way to a special little Grandie up North.

 

Marie shared her vibrant new table mat with us, made using the binding tool.  It will be a workshop for after Easter- Thanks Marie...

Another piece from the talented Marie, Machine Trapunto,  this square was going to be the center of a large quilt but sanity prevailed, it would be enormously heavy to quilt on a D.S.M.

This beautiful piece would also make a very nice workshop, or perhaps a smaller version??

Fae, one of our more long term members, who has never even had, or used, a computer, got a little entranced by the rash of Ipads floating around our group, gals sharing quilting ideas, books, family pics, on and on, it all just sounded to delish to miss out on.  Some talk took place, some advice was given, and a Darling was pressed into service to help on the shopping expedition.  Fae is over the moon, and so pleased with her new toy.

Now of course, it's all a bit of a challenge but after just 2 weeks she is emailing friends, taking pics  and generally having a ball.

Her tutor, Marie V reckons next stop, learn to e-mail those piccies!

 

Just know that if when I miss a meeting, Fae will be another willing helper to zoom off some pics for the blog.

Our Easter Fair is fast approaching, members are dropping flyers into our local fabric stores.  Popped into Johno's where the lovely Robin was only too happy to help out and look what I spotted.

A shipment of the cutest flannels had just arrived, this is just some of the selection and all very  reasonably priced.

This is not a quilt story, but a quilters story.
 Lorraine's new puppy, little Bea (little no more)  had to have that ever so necessary operation, and of course has one of those plastic collars to keep the stitches intact, -as quilters you would know how important that is.
Now Lainey and her darling found on arising each morning that there was a bit of a problem, anything left on the couch over night, stitching, reading material, whatever, was always on the floor, thinking Bea was just being inquisitive they didn't worry too much.
Hoo-evah, the Darling, waking at the crack of Sparrows one morning took the opportunity to sneak up to the doorway and sneak a peek around the corner.
This is what was found.

Not allowed on the couch??  don't think so.
Lainey has given up and put a throw over the couch, bit slack I reckon, she should run up a couple of doggie quilts for Bea, you know, one on, one in the wash. What do you reckon??

If you have got this far down the post, keep scrolling down, just a couple of hours ago Sew,So Crazy posted what the Thursday night gals have been up to and you don't want to miss out now do you?!

Lots of drooling, and admiring of the tiny blanket stitches, on Lyn's new project today.  A couple of peeks at the borders of what is going to be a stunning kiddies quilt.

When Janet's 'scraps' were donated Julie was lucky enough to snaffle enough to make 2 quilts she will be donating to STEMM, she bought this one in today to share with us.

'There's a Bear in There', is what Marie has named this wonderful quilt she is making for a new Mum from her church.  It's being rushed off to the quilters to be ready for gifting when Mum and Bub come home from the hospital

Marie purchased the fabric at the Brisbane Quilt Show and decided the bears were just perfect for centers of these crazy Log Cabin blocks.

While scooting around the web Innes spotted this quilt in flannel fabrics from one of her fave fabric designers.....urrgh....for the life of me I can't think of the name, it has just slipped between the cracks of the old brain.  You all know who I mean though don't you??!!
Anyway it is stunning in the cutest motifs and lovely bright colours.

Innes' Grandies are of the 'teenage' group, so she is keeping this one for herself to snuggle under.  How could you have the winter blues under a quilt like this!

Julie won a fabric bundle as a door prize at the Patchwork Angel and turned the fabric into this great Table Runner.  Her Mum just fell in love with the colours but sadly the runner was not the right size for her table, so Julie 'ran up' these two place mats for her Mum this morning and bought them along to finish the binding while sitting and chatting today.