Wednesday 25 November 2015

It is getting close to the end of our patchwork year. We had last month's Bomb blocks, Spinning Wheels, drawn (lucky again Kaye) and had a demonstration in this month's Bomb, Christmas Star. We might yet be all caught up before the end of the year comes around.

Next Wednesday, being the last meeting at the Community Hall for the year, is to include a morning tea of Christmas delicacies. It will be a good opportunity to start the Christmas baking early.

Ladies coming to the Christmas Breakup Luncheon on the 9th December are reminded to bring a fat 1/4 for the gift exchange. Enclose a note with your special fabric choice to explain who is gifting the fabric and where you bought it or why it is special to you. Pop it in a brown paper bag or wrap it if you are feeling fancy.

Brenda found this dramatic pattern on Pinterest and promptly set about drawing up a foundation paper pattern for it. Brenda loves making table runners and says you can never have too many.

Marlena and Phillipa are back from the Houston Quilt Show where they took a workshop in a mystery quilt pattern. Marlena was a bit concerned about where the fabrics she chose were going to end up but is very pleased with the finished quilt top. Phillipa has promised we will see hers sometime next year.

Anne has acquired some UFOs from her good friend Marylou who has passed on. Anne incorpoarated this graphic chenilled piece  into a new cushion cover.

Lesley won the badge draw today . That is twice in one year for her - a new exciting record! The parcel contained some scissors and pins - just what every sewer can always use.

Wednesday 18 November 2015

Seems it was a blue day today with a short blue Show and Tell. We missed all the ladies with embroidery machines at their workshop and hope they are learning lots of new techniques. (Elaine will no doubt have some beautiful finished article by next week.) Small Christmas projects are starting to appear round the tables as the weather gets still warmer and we start to imagine this year might just be the year we finally finish that Christmas hanging!

Jan won these Heartsease bomb blocks February 2014. When Kaye needed a quilt to raffle, Jan said she could finish this one which still needed one row of sashing, borders and quilting. Let's hope Kaye raises heaps of money with it. Kaye has been wearing purple clothes to match her purple hair but is shaving the hair off to raise money for leukemia research. (Wonder what clothes will match when her head is hairless!)

Marilyn was the only machine sewer at the back of the hall today. She was busy sewing multiple tiny scraps of fabric into this pretty border for her medallion quilt.  There are to be many more borders yet, so  it will no doubt be a long term project .  

These Spinning Wheel bomb blocks came in today but as it was a busy week and about 8 more blocks were promised, we are holding off the draw until next week.  2" pink sashing and a 4" border would make a very pretty 40" quilt from these though for a little girl.

Marilyn won the badge draw today of a piece of white on white fabric, some embroidery thread and a small pair of tasselled embroidery snips. It was a little late with the fabric as she had to go and buy a 2m piece to complete last week's bomb. She'll never be short now!

The Sewing Revolution Trunk Show

The Armstrong Beach Embroidery Group organised a 2 day workshop with Kym Goldup-Graham of The Sewing Revolution and invited us to their Trunk Show at the Boomerang Hotel  meeting room.

Although the presentation was designed for machine embroiderers, there was much of interest for patchworkers and quilters and about a dozen of our group were present.

We saw the special rulers designed by Kym and listened to an entertaining explanation of how to use them with many different quilt, cushion and table runner examples being pulled from 3 bulging suitcases.

There was a jelly bean guessing competition where the winner (lucky Helen with 250) won a $50 voucher although we won't mention those who guessed in the region of 623!

Many people took advantage of the discounts offered on rulers and patterns although poor Faye took the ruler she was impressed with home to find she already had the exact same thing unused in a drawer!

It's always good to meet with other crafters and there is always something new to learn. It was a good morning.

If you are interested in seeing the trunk show in photos, or purchasing the rulers, you can visit The Sewing Revolution website at  www.thesewingrevolution.com.au
Or see some of the more recent projects on The Sewing Revolution Facebook page.

Meeting room filled with happy and interested participants

Kym out from behind the table where the details of projects
and demonstration of rulers were projected onto a screen for great vision.

Wednesday 11 November 2015

Although summer is being felt, we had a good amount of people come today.  Lovely to see Ellen after her illness.  The monthly raffle was won by Kaye McNamara.  Also Di H. was ecstatic to be told she had won the grand prize in the Queensland Quilters Raffle.  The 'Flower Garden' quilt is a design by Kim McLean.  Congratulations Di.

Queensland Quilters 1st prize - won by Di H.

Margaret L. has very quickly made this very pretty quilt top from donated fabric,  ultimately to be given to the Breast Screen Clinic.

Anne W has been using up some of her left overs again to make this Disappearing Nine Patch Table Runner

Anne's interpretation of the Mystic Mountains Table Runner we did.  She is going to donate it to the Diabetic Assoc for a raffle.

Anne F has finally finished a very old Christmas swag, Will hang in their 'truck' 

Wednesday 4 November 2015

Well it was a perfect day today for a drive out to the country and our meeting at Yakapari Country Crafts. The parking seemed to be in short supply, but there was plenty of room inside and much chatter, and possibly some sewing, was done.

It was a spacious area in the well lit workshop. And it appears that Diana is assisting Julie with something tricky - or they could just be talking. Hope Beth enjoyed her little outing from hospital and that Chris and Karen got her back before the nurses noticed she was missing!

There were  happy and industrious sewers in all directions.

And at the other end of the room, Di just can't believe Helen's story. (The problem with candid photos!)

Robyn was the only person who had brought anything up for Show and Tell. And then she luckily, and deservedly, won the badge draw. This week it was a voucher at Mackay Sewing Centre so she will be able to acquire something for the next project.

This is the March bomb, Topiary Tiles, which Robyn won and has now competed quilting and binding. A very graphic and bold piece of quilting.

Robyn produced this tiny quilt of batik hexagons as a complete surprise, a hand project that she has finally put together, it will fit her sister's table perfectly.

Thanks to the staff at Yakapari Country Crafts who made lovely coffee, served a delicious home-made morning tea and helped us with our craft purchases. We all had a very enjoyable morning.