Wednesday 16th September 2015

What a glorious day today. No hint of summer yet, just clear blue skies and sunny warmth. Although if we don't get some rain soon we shall all be complaining of it being too dry if we aren't already.

There was quite a large Show and Tell today as the Retreat ladies showed some of their workmanship. And here we were thinking it was all fun and games and food. (Although there appeared to be plenty of that too!) Well done ladies and hoping to see still more finished articles in the next few weeks.

(Small disclaimer: Camera must have been playing up today. Apologies for some blurry photos. The fact that the usual photographer got a phone call and had to hand the camera to someone else has not helped either! Maybe if you squint the photos will look clearer.)

A few of the compulsory workshop projects. A little pot mat, each with a little quote about food and dieting - why it should be avoided mostly. Robyn had to be different and sew her back on the diagonal. All mats have binding neatly stitched as Marlena was relegated to hand sewing only because of her recuperating shoulder and managed to complete everyone's hand sewing for the entire weekend. What a friend!

Marilyn C finished this Disappearing 9-patch quilt top. She says it is in the Carmen Miranda style. It's not really that bright, Marilyn.

Robyn worked entirely on small projects and the new caravan already has matching placemats and back cushions. (It was a quilt project from retreats past that was never going to morph into a large quilt.) Great recycling Robyn.

Elizabeth made a little advent calendar and a library bag.

And this lovely little piece to match the red, black and white quilt she made for number 2 son.

Elizabeth had some pieces left over from the Cobblestone workshop last year when she decided  to forgo the large quilt and just made a simpler smaller one and get the jolly thing finished. The left over pieces look lovely in this small quilt.

Phillipa went to retreat armed with a number of machine embroidered doggy pictures to make into placemats for dog-loving relatives. There were 14 altogether we think. So many we actually blurred the photos and only have this one to show!

A sweet little cot panel made for Phillipa's friend.

And a delicate little pink heart quilt top that would be a lovely gift if only Phillipa had a granddaughter to give it to.

And this one was started by Phillipa at last year's retreat and finished this year. It was a kit bought from the Red Bus when it passed through.

Brenda thinks this one will be called Winter Sunset. It was a jelly roll that had far too many blues and greens in it and she replaced them with pinks. A very clever modern pattern.

Helen pieced this scrappy Christmas quilt and just has some applique to do in the borders. It was one of those projects that was supposed to be quick and random but had much input from other retreaters to arrive at that carefully placed random look.

Joan completed the green bag, and matching table runner and placemats. The placemats are made with an insert that is double sided fusible and makes them quite rigid. 

Joan and Charmaine do a project together every year, sharing fabrics and testing new patterns. The elephant is attached to the background with raw edge machine applique. There is a little background quilting to keep the layers together in lines and circles with various "found in the retreat sewing room"objects used as templates for the circles.

And after the elephant was  pulled over the frame, this very colourful fabric was glued to the back to keep the geckos and spiders from building homes there.

And in Non-Retreat Show and Tell....

Di is using her subscription to the National Quilters Circle well. (There are free emails on offer at the moment and a special $9 subscription to access the design pages.) Di decided to whip up a couple of free machine samples to have a go at the "Ripped Borders".  Some great techniques for art quilts and looks like such fun ripping and twisting and couching.

Del was given some dinosaur material for dinosaur-mad grandson. What do you make for a 3 year old that already has a quilt? A little place mat for him  to spill spaghetti on.

Badge Draw today was won by Beth.