Gearing up for our next Quilt Show

Yes, planning is underway for our next quilt show in 2015.
It was suggested that the group members all make a block for the raffle quilt, the pattern has been chosen and Gwen will be guiding us through the process, and for some of us who only machine quilt it will also be a learning curve on hand piecing.

Gwen shared these blocks with the group today to show the way and to inspire us.

As most of us know, Heather moved house at the end of last year, today she shared this lovely Christmas wall hanging that she had created for her new home. 

Now normally the pics are cropped down to give you a better view, normally...but things aren't swinging too normally in my neck of the woods at the moment.  It's to do with house painting and a packed up office/sewing room, all last minute, so I can't find a thing, including the computer mouse and for the life of me I can't work out how to crop pics on the laptop....I'm sure I can find out, but not just at this moment.  Nevertheless, I'm sure you can enjoy Heather's lovely hanging.

We have all been making scrappy quilts over the past few months, well almost a year now, and some folks are looking for different patterns to use, here are two links that you might enjoy, both via Ami Simms,  this one is also on youtube thanks to Ami.
Ami met Megan Null at a class she was giving and noticed Megan saving all the little scraps Ami usually tells her students to throw away.  Pop over to Ami's post, scroll down and watch the video of how Megan uses every little piece of fabric.
http://amisimms.wordpress.com/2014/02/01/the-2014-crumb-quilt-challenge/

The second scrappy quilt is from Ami Simms facebook page and is a class she teaches. https://www.facebook.com/AmiSimmsQuilter

Haven't had time yet to contact Ami or search her site for a pattern but there is bound to be one.

Thank you very much to Marie for taking the Show and Tell pics for us and the stories.

Looking forward to another year of fun...

...frolics, camaraderie, great quilts and (if Marie and Pat have their way) a few learning curves to boot.
To start us off, some pics of a beautiful doily quilt with a lovely story.

Marlene's daughter collected a number of her M.I.L's doilies, added a few others to the collection and then asked Marlene to make a quilt for said M.I.L as a special gift to help celebrate one of those milestone Birthdays, it was a very special celebration with family traveling from interstate to join in the fun.

While Marlene was chatting about the quilt and what quilting designs to use, one of our members, Judy, who also happens to be a very talented long arm quilter mentioned that she had never quilted a doily quilt before and wouldn't mind the challenge!!! Well, you can guess the rest, but I bet you didn't guess that Judy, after quilting quite a bit of the quilt decided that she didn't like the result, so she de-quilted it and started again! Now that's perfectionism.

So for a bit of quiltin' amazin' pop over to Furball Farm blog and just drool over Judy's latest quilting post, the most darling wall hanging 'Dolly Dress Ups', just don't forget to come back!

First meeting of the year was last week, sorry I missed it, but you won't, thanks to Lorraine who took some great pics to share with you.

Val, a 'Brisbane Lions' quilt

Val’s dh is an ardent (shouldn’t we say “rabid”) supporter of the Brisbane Lions. Val took the picture from their logo and made this knee rug. It is avidly shown around when fellow supporters, or not, as the case may be, come to visit. It is raw edge appliqué.

Pat - "What Colour is an Elephant" by Jenny Kingwell

 

Pat made this gorgeous baby quilt from a pattern in Quilter Companion – with a few changes from the original.

The quilt is made for Pat’s daughter-in-law’s friend. If that is a mouthful to read imagine what it was like to write it. The friend lives in Melbourne and is due to have her first baby on 13 Feb.  D-I-L asked Pat to make her something special.
 
 More on raw edge applique from Val

Following on from the Lion Val remembered that about 6 years ago Lorraine Carthew came to Buderim and did a workshop on raw edge appliqué. Like most of us the workshop item wasn’t finished but Val got it out and completed the fish.

 Lucky Needlework Gals to get a workshop from Val

No, not this wallhanging, although Val did think it was a goer but then decided to create another, more complicated design, lots of over and under pieces.  Sadly no pic, supposed to be there but not showing up.  Will try and get another for you. The Kimonos are cute but aren't they.

And so on to this weeks Show and Tell:
More from Val,  now this gal is prolific, so I took my courage in hand and asked the rude? question, just how long did it take to make that quilt Val?
guess...just guess how long it too to make this quilt.

2 mornings - I kid you not! Zoom is a word that sprang to mind.
Don't you just love the pieced backing?
Val is going to give our group a quick demo on the assembly of this quilt, super easy with only two points that the seams have to line up. A little different and just perfect for a Charity Quilt.

Again from Val
Val was gifted a stack of Moda 5" charm squares, She designed this lovely, which if you are early you will catch a glimpse of and possibly be the lucky purchaser of at our 2014 Easter Fair on 19th April.

 Beautifully worked appliqued flowers interspersing the charm squares.

 Val machine quilted a lovely trailing hearts design around the borders. Click on the pic for a bigger version to see the stitching.

 

The Judging for our Annual Lyn Ballinger Challenge is coming up fast, scarily fast.  The theme this year is 'Circle of Communication' with the challenge to make a bag/pouch/sleeve to hold a handheld electronic communication device.

Lorraine I. ran up a few ideas (you like that? ran up?) over the Christmas Break, the circles on the pink folder are pretty self explanatory with the buttons.  the Circular shoulder bag has a handy little pouch to slip your mobile into.

A rather novel chenille circle closure on the little green pouch while the blue pouch is adorned with a more traditional elasticised loop and button closure and the black I-pad cover.....well, I'm guessing it is for Lorraine's darling, what with the letter G and all, and those loop and button closures, - got 'guy' written all over them.
UPDATE-e-mail just popped up from Lainey...."On/Off switch to complete the 'Circle of Communication' of course"   -  clever or what?

Now have you ever been involved in giving back to the community?, as is in, you know what has been proposed, you know it happened, 'cause you got to read the 'thank you' note, but you never really saw the result, in the flesh - so to speak - well our group provide the funds for this really great sunshade for one of our local Nippers groups (Nippers, as in Junior Life Savers ) so just imagine the excitement when Sheila, trundling along the beach with the Grandies spotted the latest Surf Carnival featuring out little donation. Talk about make your heart proud, or as someone else said "make your eyes stand out on sticks"

 It's what we love to do, support the community where we live.

Christmas - Pressures, Sales and Luncheon

Popped into Johnno's for some ric-rac to finish a charity quilt and spotted this lovely vibrant range of fabrics. 

Robin told me that she is really feeling the pressure of that other (cheapie) fabric store's sales push and has decided to have a sale of her own, all her beautiful quilting fabrics are going out the door for only $7.99 a mtr. and once they're gone - they're gone!.  Robin will be concentrating on other avenues, so sad to see another local retailer feeling the push of the big buyers.

Was a bit startled to see Kym has sprouted wings!!!, Always knew she was an angel, but wings? really?

And who's lovely quilt is that on the wall? looks like Marie's!

Kym also mentioned she was having a bit of a sale, the called it the BO - - sale, yeah ok, so all I remember is the Bloody Old bit, kinda resonated, you know what I mean?
Anyway, pop in, mention the sale, and Kym will be only too pleased to point out the range, lots of lovely pinks in there too.

The Christmas Luncheon was a real hoot by all accounts, and thanks to Lainey here are some pics for you to relive the fun or for those of us not able to make it to see some of what the gals got up to.

First to breast the bar - so to speak - Marie and Marcia

Marcia was also the M.C. for the day, and from what one hears did an outstanding job.

Sheila was presented with 2 "Gemstones' jelly rolls,  in just her colours.

We thank the Patchwork Angel gals for their discount, very kind.

The meal was delish, as ever, with a choice of 2 mains and 2 desserts.

The tables were beautifully set

with a gift for each gal, little buckets of chockies,

Christmas hats and everything needed to play games.  Well, not all games, no skipping ropes etc but the kind of games quilters play at table.

There was colouring in....

        
 Sue didn't go outside the lines - nope - not even once, she must have been holding her tongue just right!

Wow, look at the concentration, ('cept Dorothy, she must have finished!)

Yep, eveyone had a great time!

Thanks to those who organised, those who did and of course, those who served up that lovely luncheon.

Thursday night

This is not the best photo of Fiona's quilt - in the flesh it is stunning..............

......................the binding needs to be done ASAP as its a Christmas gift for her daughter.

Debs is making good progress on her GTASB quilt..............

Tish is winding her thread to unwind!!

Jane B was showing off her new bag made by Sue.

Jackie's work...........lovely colours, as usual.

Beautiful embroidery by Elaine.

Christmas decorations by Jane A.

Pins and 1" squares looking pretty in Leanne's basket.

Doggie fabrics kept Jules busy.

 This is so lovely - Marlene completing a workshop project.

Yola tried her hand a machine quilting on this table runner.

Denise spent her evening reading.

Clamshells by Jenny.

Jane B's magnificent hand piecing..........................

 

Christmas party next week to finish off the year.

 

Day 1 of the Christmas Excitement

The Cottage Christmas Fair was off to a wonderful start this afternoon.
Grabbed a few pics of goodies for you to drool over.
Well set up for the crowds to come, Treasure Heather was just waiting for that first sale with an amazing blue and white quilt as her backdrop.

A Christmas tree sporting some sweet little decorations with place mats surrounding its base, table runners and stockings on the display behind.

Great selection of Table Runners, all sizes and styles are to be had, including the rather innovative 'watermelon slice'....hmmm  wouldn't mind a nice slice of chilled, juicy, sweet melon about now.....

A longer table runner, one of the Advent Calendars and two of the many Christmas Stockings.

Lots of Kiddies Wall Hangings, and more table runners

More Wall hangings, Coasters and of course....gloves....for both gardening and machine quilting.

One the side wall, lots of quilts - some you will recognise from previous posts, all capped off with a lovely double sided Christmas Bunting.

More lovely quilts....

Of course these are just a few quick snaps from around the room, so much more to see and even to snaffle for a loved one, Marie's innovative shoe bags, aprons fit for a Christmas Luncheon Queen, or even King, stuffed toys, books, table throws, avocado bags, etc., etc.

Do hope to see you at the Fair tomorrow
Starts at 8.00a.m. and winds up at 2.30pm
5 Main Street Buderim  - - Opposite the Sate Primary School