A Surprising Laugh from Pat and a little 'how to' on communicating

Firstly I just have to share this e-mail from Pat with you, I didn't get it at first, not until I opened the link and all became so, so clear. Haven't laughed so much for a long time.
From Pat:
Found this great quilt pattern. Maybe a goer for another group quilt for the Brisbane show. No? Maybe it is all just a load of.........!!! Anyway you have to laugh, cheers Pat.
https://javahousequilts.com/shop/were-on-a-bigger-roll

And yes, I could post the pic, but want you to have the same fun I did.- Not to be opened whilst drinking coffee - be warned!

Two mails from Wendy, first with some really delicious blocks
Hi Andrea
I thought you might like to add this to the blog which by the way is a terrific way for us all to keep in touch, and see what others are doing. I rejoined the Quilt show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Timms. I started their block of the month which has many more than one block each month as they are 6.5 inch blocks and an 85 in square quilt. It is made up of appliqué and shoo fly blocks that are all set on point. There is also another pieced block that I haven’t started yet. I decided to use all 1930 s prints and the same background. I think this might keep me busy for quite a while.
X Wendy

Wendy's second mail raised a question of communicating with one another via the blog.
Hi Andrea again,
I wanted to say that I loved Di’s blue quilt and wondered at the pattern. Is there any way we can comment on things in the blog?
X Wendy


So after a bit of faffing around I think I’ve got it set right (We had comments turned off for a long while and then restricted commenting) but now we are fully operational.
So a very short tutorial
At the very end of each post we now have a 'Post a Comment' window. You activate the window by clicking on the 'no comments' button, If comments have been made the tag will read '#' comments, clicking on that will give you access to all comments and the comments window.
Just type in what you want to say, select who you want to comment as and click on the Blue ‘Publish’ Button. (as far as I can tell Anonymous comments will not publish)
Select a new comment window for each topic you want to chat about.

If there is a comment from one of the group that you want to add to, select the ‘Reply’ button below the comment concerned and you will get a comment window. Don’t forget to hit that Blue Publish Button at the end.

If you go to the Thursday March 19th post “Battening down our Hatches” and scroll to the bottom you will see where the Darling and I have had a test run on comments and replies.

If you need to contact me and don’t know how, open the blog and in the top right hand corner of the paler blue strip you will find an address. This is the address I use for craft blogs and sites so of course, every time I want a little sit down with or without a drinkie, I check the mail, so you have a good chance of getting a reply within a few hours.
Cheers, and enjoy having a natter. (Maybe Di could give us a bit of a heads up about her quilt and the pattern, I'm sure Wendy isn't the only one of us curious.)
Andrea

Battening down our Hatches

As most of us now know, the Cottage is closing its doors from next Monday until at least 27th April, whether or not to extend the closure will be reviewed at the next Management Committee meeting.

Some folks are self isolating while others are social distancing, whichever path you are following I wish you a safe next few weeks while we all try to deal with the many challenges we are suddenly facing.

Sheila has suggested that we keep in touch via the blog, a great idea!
Send a pic of what ever you are working on or have completed, you can use any of my e-mails or the blog's e-mail address (fatquarternews-at-Yahoo.com - you will need to replace the 'at' with the correct sign) I will put your news here for us all to enjoy. If you don't want to send a pic in an e-mail, send it via your phone, get my phone number from either Sheila or Sue A - also feel free to send links to any online site you think might appeal to your fellow patchworkers be it patchwork, quilting or any other craft or even something like that really interesting video of the mouse watching paint dry...anything cool at all!!

To kick us off, here's a suggestion from Sue A., Karen from 'Just Get It Done Quilts' This lady is a real 'sharer' lots of happy chatter, lots of hints and tutorials and lots of free patterns. She also has a youtube channel, simply put 'Just Get It Done' in the youtube search bar and you will be glued to the screen for hours, or minutes if you are strong...or hours, her latest video is titled 'Quilting & Social Isolation - It's what we've been training for' Suggest you don't start with that one, it's her first 'live' and while some were rolling in the aisle laughing at the goings on, it might be a bit of a strange introduction.

Sheila has very kindly sent pics of some of the work you talented gals have been doing.

Di Stark's quilt for family friend Fraser. Pattern is by Michelle Marbig Blue is his favourite colour.

Di has found this interesting bag she had forgotten she had made !

Sheila's quilt for son Neal's 50th birthday. It uses Fibonacci ratio & a little basketball fabric as he has been a coach for 22 years.

The back of Neal's quilt.

Pat made this bag using tiny red triangles given to her by Ailsa.

This is sample of our green blocks to be used for a group quilt representing Buderim.
Members are encouraged to make crazy / improvised blocks up to 9 inch
Plenty of time now Cottage is closed!

Sue A also sent pics of Green blocks she has been working on. Sue reckons its rather relaxing once you get started. (or maybe it's just that she wants more time with the new machine?)

Wendy had a news update and this cutie to share.
Hi to fellow patchworkers
Thanks Sheila for that information and good ideas to keep ourselves busy. We are lucky we have sewing as a hobby.
We only got as far as Perth and then flew home on Saturday night. We are very glad to be home. I had a message from Karen and she said she was on the cruise ship hoping to dock at Cape Town. I hope she ok and will be home soon.
We will miss the company of our patchwork friends but we could always send pictures of what we are sewing to each other. To that end I will send a picture of a small quilt that I finished using disappearing four patch blocks and I added Pat’s tricky block. See if you can find it.
X Wendy

Jan B sent a note to Sheila, but sadly no piccie, perhaps one might turn up later?
"Thanks Sheila , I’ve missed the last 2 weeks of patchwork ( things out of my control)
Sorry for you that the Master Swimming National in Sydney are cancelled , I know you were looking forward to the trip .
Can you just refresh me on the 9inch green squares ?
I’ve finished the quilt I was given to finish off and also my new grandsons cot quilt , I’m now starting a lap quilt for my daughter".
- Well, no grass growing under Jan's feet.

In case anyone is wondering about getting supplies, a few e-mails have turned up with ideas.
Kym from Kimz Sewing and Patchwork sent out this communication.
"We are business as usual here with all classes scheduled still going ahead at this stage. We will update you all if there are any changes.

Our Q20 Demo and Workshop with Jane Rundle is postponed with a new date yet to be confirmed.

If you would prefer not to come in to the store then we have a few options for you to stock up on your sewing supplies. You can call us on 0754934977, send an email to kimzsewing@bigpond.com or order via our website using the Shop Online button to the right. Delivery options include Australia Post, Sendle, home deliveries by staff or pick up from front of store.

If you have any questions please contact us as we are more than happy to help."

At this stage no news about any other local patchwork or fabric stores, but perhaps a call to them would sort out any supply problems, if any info comes to light I will pass it on.

Eastcoast fabrics are offering free shipping on orders over $100, but I think that is pretty standard anywhere.

and finally, for those quiet times when you should be catching zzzz's take a virtual tour through The Smithsonian.
https://naturalhistory2.si.edu/vt3/NMNH/z_tour-029.html

Happy Stitchin' and if anyone needs anything at all, even just a quick chat to liven the day, reach out, we are all in this together. Mind you, loo paper might be pushing it a bit but something can be arranged!! Just jokin'. I have faith in the Govt. crack down on hoarders and black marketeers and that this crazy lack of goods will soon be behind us all, including the loo paper.

Stunning Stitches and Monthly Sewing Day

Pat stitched up a this cutie for our Atrium Gallery.

Named 'Charm Pack Shuffle', it is one of the many free patterns from Moda on their Bake Shop site, it certainly raised some interest with the result that Pat agreed to present the pattern construction as a mini workshop.

Pat provided each of us with step by step instructions and even a sample.

along with many, many reiterations to closely follow the step by step directions. A confusing pattern if you don't concentrate but a simple one if you do. There were a few laughable moments and a few frustrated reverse stitchers but generally we all had a great time. Thanks heaps for the tutorial Pat.

Karen didn't take part in the workshop, she was busily creating the sweetest little zippered pouches, apparently she has made herself several, created from a simple Keyring kit from BeBeBold along with a few extras, zip, wadding etc. Lots of oohhs and aahhhs over these darling little pieces.

Karen also lined and padded the inside of her pouches.

Karen brought along two drawstring bags to share with us, she purchased the pattern from BeBeBold at the last Craft Fair in Brisbane, but get this, although she padded her stash with BeBeBold fabrics this adorable blue drawstring bag was made from a skirt that Karen wore when her now adult kids were just toddlers. Looks amazing, Karen.
The red lining shows the bag off perfectly, particularly the antique finished drawstring loops.

Sheila is now back from her amazing Craft trip to Japan, she had a wonderful time, touring and joining in various workshops along the way. She very kindly shared a pic of some of her workshop treasures from the trip with us.

2020 - A new year of quilting candy and inspiration

Well here we are, off and running with another year of inspiration and lovely work to look over. Sheila sent in some great work by the Thursday night gals for you. Thanks Sheila.

Firstly we have Jules, making good progress with her hexies.

Fiona has finished her scrappy Bow Ties.

Yolanda is making tiny stars

Jackie is busy with her hand piecing.

Michelle with her interesting heritage piece.

Leanne is putting together her hexies

Debbie sewing different sashiko on denim

Although we don't have pics as yet to share from the Wednesday gals, one hears that they also are busy busy creating lovlies. The Easter Fair is not so far off, and those that do are already doing...yep...organisation for the next Great Quilt Exhibition and Sale is well underway.

More buttons than you can poke a stick at...

...really, miles of them.
Pam, from the Cottage Needlework group was coerced errahhmm.. asked very nicely to present a button necklace workshop to Patchwork group. Pam bought along just a few of her buttons, just in case anyone was missing that perfect button to complete their design.

That lovely plant was a Thank You from our group to Pam.

It was a fantastic workshop, lots of choosing of buttons and working on design layouts.

We even had young Alison along to give it a go,

Alison has been staying with Gran (Sheila) for a few days, and I guess from the lovely smile, she is rightly pleased with her necklace.
There were some lovely and innovative designs. Just a few here for you.

Marlene was one stoked lady, she popped into the local op-shop looking for a kiddies book and came away with this treasure, created entirely with stitched hexagons, both sides as well as the bottom.

Not only every hexagon with a pretty stitchery, but the bag is also lined and has cute little button feet. Marlene couldn't believe her luck at only a few dollars, she thinks she will be using this lovely for quite some time before re-donating it to the same op-shop.

Charity Quilts, Challenges and more

We have some lovely quilts and history to share thanks to Sheila for her pics and words.

Now we all know how Sheila is not exactly fond of matching seams, in fact she actively avoids any quilt that needs them, so we were all rather admiring of her latest charity quilt flimsey, lots and lots of matching seams, Sheila even confessed that she had made sure of matching the seams by....yep....pinning them!!!

Jackie also had a community quilt flimsey to share,

Jan was busily finishing the binding on her second quilt, destined for a grandie.

and now from Sheila, with Thanks.

Marie’s shirt says it all !

Gens Quilt which was shown in Yokohama Quilt Show She did Centre & others, some from Japan & Australia did the surrounding sections

Gwen’s challenge to herself. ‘ Not one straight line ‘ ?

Marie’s UFO. She can’t remember how she did this pattern . Spectacular result!

Previous winners. A history of challenge was given starting with ‘ Rainforest Challenge ‘in 2001.
Marion

Inga

Sandy

Karen W

Pat