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!

 

Charity Quilts push and Hi-Jinks

The push to get a load of charity quilts ready for the Burrumbuttock Hay Run saw another pile of quilts getting their labels attached and ready to be delivered by Wendy to their pick up point.

Sheila and Lorraine, busily stitching, Sheila has donated her quilt made in the recent Jan Phillips workshop 'Freedom', Sheila fessed up "When I was making the quilt I rather went off it, but now it's done I just love it!"  how often does that happen, too close to appreciate until the finished lovely emerges.  Sheila is still happy to donate her quilt to the Hay Run, knowing someone else will love it also.

We had torrential rains over the past weekend, but did that put Jackie off washing fabric, no way.  She had a plan for her donation and nothin' was getting in the way! -although Jackie was amused by the look of total disbelief on her neighbours face, watching Jackie hang little lengths of fabric on the line in between rain storms-
A brilliant design to quickly create a lovely quilt.  Jackie, with the help of Marlene was sharing her freshly labeled sweetie...

...until Miss Michief, who shall remain nameless, zoomed past and gave it a little yank, down it tumbled!!

But not to the floor, too quick to let that happen.

Wednesdays pile, with more promised.

Each donated quilt will have a special label attached, words suggested by Karen W and machine embroidered by Wendy.
There has been a few enquiries, from folk not from our neck of the woods, about what the Hay Run is about, so here are a couple of news items to put you in the picture, so to speak.  A great pic of just how big this thing is is in the April 7th Weekly Times article
http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/agribusiness/cropping/11th-burrumbuttock-hay-runners--convoy-arrives-in-ilfracombe/news-story/ac79bea7af6471e7638b5159b73593fd
and this link to the National Transport Free Newspaper has loads of stories
http://www.bigrigs.com.au/topic/burrumbuttock-hay-runners/
An addendum
An e-mail hit the desk last night from Connecting Threads, offering free shipping to Aust on orders over $75. The offer is only for a limited time, and also only for online orders.
Immediately thought of all you gals stitchin' your little hearts out on Charity Quilts, this is possibly a way of making quilts in a pattern you have been thinking about for awhile in a way that will not be cost prohibitive as a give away quilt.
If you are interested visit Connecting Threads here.
Some of their fabric is very reasonably priced, U.S.$ 3.50 to 4.60
and no, I don't get a kickback or anything, I'm just a name on a mailing list. 

Chris has been missing in action for awhile, pleased to see her joining the ranks - but...wait...knitting? really?, Chris always has a bring along project.  Turns out her little Grandie (obviously a gunna be quilter) has been visiting, the sewing room is a wreck and the key to the sewing cabinet is...well...not where it should be, hence the knitting.

Heather is not slacking, not at all, has just finished another one of her lovely blocks and is taking a 'thinking about it break'
Honest!

Wendy was in the Machine room, busily machine appliquing block 3 of her 'Foxley Village' quilt while chatting to Marie, Wendy was not happy with her fox and wanted to remove him, and call the quilt ' Cat Village', however, an e-mail last night tells that with Marie's idea of the judicious application of a little water colour pencil, Foxley is now safe from extinction.

3 delicious blocks, wish my fabric would hurry up.

So...whats the goss Gals...

no, not just gossiping at all, Pat was showing a pic of a quilt that had inspired her for the one under the needle, but of course, as it so often happens, just not quite enough of one fabric caused a bit of a design tweek.

Janice, Beryl, Karen D, and Chris all agree, yep exactly different!!

Our Fabric dyeing workshop is coming up fast, just 2 weeks away, so a bit of a list of what we will all need.
Sue is supplying all the dyes so just the fabric and tools are needed.



Date 18 May
Washed white cotton fabric, - although there was some chat today about bringing an item of clothing you would like to re-vamp, but be aware, the thread used in construction may not be cotton and therefor will not dye
Zip lock bags or plastic containers large enough to suit the fabric pieces you will dye
Large plastic box that will hold the filled zip lock bags to take your fabric home
Lots of small jars or bottles to mix dyes in, and maybe take some dye home
Large plastic tray
Rubber Gloves
Old clothes (& shoes)
Old towels for mopping up the inevitable spills

May is Machine Embroidery display month for the glass cabinet in the entry, couldn't resist some pics of the beautiful work these clever girls do.

Finishes, lots of 'em

The gals have been busy busy over the past weeks,
First finish spotted, well, almost finished was Courtney putting the last stitches into the binding on her table runner.

Next finish spotted was Marcia, no not the quilt finished, the sandwiching finished, another 'I Spy' for another Great Grandie, with more really cute backing, snaffled at a recent sale--- gotta love a good sale!

Julie also had some finishes to share, these two amazing pieces of Reticello, the Italian version of Hardanger, same methods but with different stitchery patterns.
There are some great tutorials/demonstrations on Youtube, but mainly in Italian, so bonus, you get to learn a new hobby and brush up on your Italian!...or maybe just buy the book

Gwen bought her book of Il Reticello along some months back, Julie was captivated and created these two pieces.

A stack of finished charity quilts.

All ready to have their labels attached.  These are to join the masses of toiletries donated by local residents to join the Burrumbuttock Hay Runners for drought affected families in Western Queensland.  The initive was organised by local resident Pat Morris in conjunction with local M.P. Steve Dickson who's office is being used as a collection point.  Toiletries can still be dropped off up to Tuesday 10th May.  Wendy has machine embroidered the quilt labels and latecomer quilts can have labels attached next Wednesday 4th.

Last stitches done!

Courtney finished the binding, table runner all ready to go!

Julie is working on a 'charity quilt to be' for her other quilt group which was also lucky enough to be the recpients of a no longer needed stash, this piece is designed to be embroidered and Julie is enjoying the journey, a great bring along project.  She also had the cutest wooden box for transporting all the necessities and niceties, like the tinsy little change purse and cute little tin of mints both gifted by friends.

Jackie is beavering along on her Jack's Chain inspired pattern. Love this fussy cut hexie.

and now, time for a little in house bragging.
Remember a couple of years ago when the needlework group held their exhibition and yarn bombed everything in sight?
One of the many things that leader Pam bombed (apart from the family SUV) was a table converted from a chair, when Pam and her Darling were downsizing, the table was given to her grandaughter, who almost managed to keep it!
Mum, an optometrist, opened her new office in Maleny, and positioned the bombed table in a corner to create a kiddies reading area, it was spotted by a teacher from the Maleny Community Kindergarden who promptly commissioned Pam for another.
Sharing the finished commission with fellow yarn and fiber artists, said table was spotted by Cottage President Jan, who promptly took a pic for Graham to use in our newsletter, just had to share it with others who would appreciate the wonder of this piece. Thanks Jan and Graham.

If you want to see it in the flesh, you know where to find it, at Judi's optometrist in Bunya Street, just opposite the Maleney School, mind you, it might cost you a new pair of glasses, close examination of tiny stitches may be mistaken for bad eyesight and away you go...new glasses!

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.