Wednesday 26 October 2016

It was a lovely sewing day today. Show and Tell involved a few snippets from the Chris Timmins workshop and there was a very simple BomB (Block Of the Month Bonanza). Diana brought in folders and folders of patterns taken from magazines that someone was hoping could go to a new home. There are far too many to store, so browse them quickly if you are interested in any.

Remember, there is no meeting at the hall next week. Next Wednesday is an outing to Yakapari Country Crafts for a buffet High Tea, some craft table perusing and the usual time to sit and sew so don't neglect your handwork.

The Badge Draw was won today by Robyn who had to leave early. Fortunately, Elizabeth was in charge of any prize collecting. 

Liz has finished a small quilt to go to the women's shelter. It is completely hand stitched and hand quilted and oh so soft and cuddly. And that koala fabric is just the cutest.

Del had so much fun at the workshop she spent all day Sunday finishing her bargello. Although she still has a few strips left over so there may be some more strips added to each side yet. The pattern required 20 half metre pieces of fabric and Del only had to purchase an additional 7 fabrics to go with what she had in her stash! And now she has mastered the technique the next quilt is likely to be another bargello.

Deane was very close to completing her top at the conclusion of the workshop. (We think maybe because she hosted the tutor she had some special assistance!) Deane has been collecting red and black fabrics for a while to make a quilt for a special young man. This Drunkards Path has turned out to be the perfect pattern.

Joan has quilted and bound her retreat quilt. It was constructed with a special curved ruler from Sew Kind of Wonderful.

And baby toys are in fashion with Joan soon to be grandma. The I-Spy fabrics are so cute, even though they were second choice as daughter had purloined the box of colourful fabric while Joan was away on holiday.

Elaine didn't have a photograph of her children together so she combined two photos and machine stitched the images. The stitching is incredible. And what a lovely momtento Elaine now has. 

Workshop 20-22 October 2016

Eleven members of BBQ and five quilters from Proserpine enjoyed a 2 1/2 day workshop with Chris Timmins from Northern NSW. Chris demonstrated her Bargello, Hunter Star, Drunkards Path and Take Six patterns.

Chris'  Drunkards Path made of stripped fabric. Noone was quite ambitious enough to tackle this one!

Chris showing her Hayley Comet Bargello variation. Del and Vera are doing this pattern.

Not Chris' but Gayle's Hunter Star made in a past workshop.

One of Chris' Take 6 variations making maximum advantage of contrasting fabrics.

There was much sewing activity during the workshop. Everyone was busy with their own layouts and we weren't permitted to see much of what everyone else was doing. Chris was not only good at encouragement, but also keeping everyone's foot to the machine pedal! The Mackay Art Society rooms were beautifully clean, airy and filled with light. If only both air conditioners had been working it would have been perfect! The view to the Wake Park was also quite stunning although there was little time to sit and watch the skiers.

Deborah was the first to finish. This is going to make a lovely little lap quilt.

Many thanks to Chris for sharing her patterns and expertise and thanks to the workshop participants for their enthusiasm, helpfulness and fun! We are all well on the way to great new quilts.

Workshop participants with little pieces (except for Deane!) of where they are going. (Deborah and Carol absent)

Wednesday 19 October 2016

It seems this blog is destined to have 'less than professional' photographs. The blogperson forgot the camera today and so we have emailed photos from an iPhone. Hardly acceptable, but there you go. (We miss you Anne!) Heartiest apologies (Yet again.)
Ladies attending the Chris Timmins' Workshop tomorrow were getting a little excited and also slightly confused about what was actually required. Still, we have three days to sort ourselves out and it wouldn't be a good workshop if we didn't learn lots.
Numbers are required next week for those attending the morning at Yakapari Country Crafts on November 2nd.
PLEASE NOTE: There will be no gathering at the Bucasia Hall that week.
Cost for the buffet High Tea is $10 or $12 with fancy coffee. Bring some hand sewing to do when not browsing the craft stalls.
We nearly didn't have a winner for the Badge Draw today. Fay had the needed ticket bundled up in her sewing basket ready to head out the door. Guess she never wins, so she never checks the ticket. But today she did win!

Marilyn started off Show and Tell today with this little panel she has added borders to and quilted with 'scribbly' free machine quilting.

Diana is in trouble for showing this quilt she quilted for her mother. Flo was a bit embarrassed because it was just an 'old scappy thing'. But this is what patchwork is all about, Flo. She is putting it in a pile in the cupboard with the others which get pulled out every year and given to a needy person or cause. 

 And The Outback Christmas Tablerunners are still coming in. The final collection date is November 16th. Please make sure they are all finished by that date.

Delma has finished a lovely coordinated Zig Zag runner.

Kay finished these from our Week 2 and Week 3 demonstrations. She didn't like the snowmen though (Well, they would melt in Longreach wouldn't they?) so she added some Christmas Bells instead.

Wednesday 12 October 2106

Another committee meeting today. They seem to come around quickly. Discussions were held re a morning at Yakapari Country Crafts. This has been arranged for Wednesday November 2nd. $10 for a buffet high tea or $12 if you want a 'special' coffee. We also talked about a special high tea morning or Melbourne cup morning. But we are quickly running out of Wednesdays for them. So next year!

The Monthly Raffle of the $25 voucher was won by Marilyn who drew her own name out of the hat after winning last month. Apparently an Indian gentleman in Melbourne told her she was a very lucky lady. Appears it is true! 

And Margaret won the Badge Draw and has a little voucher from Needleworx to spend.

What do you give a grandaughter for her birthday when you are not allowed to buy toys? You make the fairy mad little girl a big cushion with fairies on it. Anne mitred some border fabric so it made a frame around the little panel.

And the remainer of the border fabric went into the back.

Brenda appliqued a poinsettia onto her half hexie table runner made with Christmas poinsettia fabric.

Marlena finished 3 table runners for our charity drive before she heads to America for a little holiday. The patterns for these runners were found on Pinterest. Isn't it good to know someone does more than pinning?

Marilyn has been working on this quilt on and off for a couple of years and is now just stitching the binding down. It has pieces of lace from her daughter's wedding dress and doyleys and scraps of other precious lace and embellishments.

Wednesday 5 October 2106

Another month  - October - the last month before we realise we have to start thinking about the end of the year! The blogperson has returned from a short holiday break in Outback Queensland which is looking fabulous. And some fabulous sewing has been going on while she was away. 

Heather won the Badge Draw today and will no doubt spend more than the voucher when she visits Mackay Sewing Centre.

Jean was basting this quilt today which she pieced at the Retreat. Elizabeth gave her the squares of I-Spy fabrics and Jean simply sewed them on the diagonal and cut them apart, piecing them with sashing in this delightful dark/light pattern. The quilt is to go to the Women's Shelter and has no batting, just a lovely cuddly fleece backing.

Lynn has always wanted to make herself an Irish Chain quilt and here it is. She started handquilting it about 6 months ago. Isn't it wonderful we have not lost the old traditional patterns and techniques? Well done, Lynn.

Today's lot of finished tablerunners from the September Tablerunner Month handed in ready to go to the Christmas Outback Tablerunner Drive. (Forgotten the official name, but we shall do a piece on them in November when they are due.) REMEMBER sewers - they must be finished by 16th November. Thanks very much  to Diana and Robyn for these.

Wednesday 28 September 2016

After last week's huge Show and Tell there was not very much new this week. The last week of the September Tablerunner Month had all four patterns available for people to take home and complete. It is not compuslsory to sew a tablerunner and of course you can use your own pattern, but it is good to get carried away in the fun when everyone is getting involved. And the four tablerunners demonstrated were really quite quick and easy.

No BomB (Block Of the Month Bonanza) this week as we are all too busy making tablerunners. And Lesley is still away.

Cheryl won the June BomB, Bricks and Stepping Stones. She obviously had to cut a whole lot more bricks and make many more stepping stones to get a quilt top this size. What an effective pattern though. Love those earthy tones Cheryl.

While Brenda has been finishing Christmas tablerunners, she made herself this lovely table centre for Christmas. The hole in the middle is to place a Christmas candle.

Wednesday 21 September 2016

Lots of Show and Tell today as the Retreat ladies bring all their finished items from the 4 days to show off.
Apologies from the blogperson who was so excited to get a volunteer to look after the camera while she was away, she neglected to show same person how the autofocus button worked. Thanks for all the many photos, and descriptions though. Really appreciated. And remember, it's about the sewing, not the photography!

Iris didn't go to Retreat, but she has spent some time on this quilt between various hospital visits. Iris won some truck blocks from the Convoy BomB in May 2015. Hasn't she made a fabulous quilt for a little boy? Look at the I-Spy sashing blocks and even one truck turned into "Ollie's Pie Van". He will just love it.

Those ladies at retreat know how to be fashionistas! Marlena's challenge for everyone was microwave safe soup bowl holders. Looks like everyone enjoyed making these.

Cheryl made this very bright banana print quilt for her daughter to put in her yellow car which she calls "the banana".

Robyn pieced this very coordinated zigzag table runner after just picking up some spare charm squares at our demo. Well done Robyn. It looks great.

Marlena made a little play mat for the coming grandchild.

The present table runner Marlena demonstrated to everyone.

A very fancy curved piece Christmas Tree table runner by Marlena

A bright and cheery Christmas table runner which has pictures aligned for both sides of the table to enjoy.

A little Star Quilt by Marlena

Another Marlena quilt made of half-square triangles

Jean's simply dramatic black and white quilt. (No, it's not your eyes, it's the photo, but this is just such a fantastic idea, we thought it should stay in.)

Phillipa pieced this Cherry Pop Quilt Kit.

These Japanese fabrics were a gift from Phillipa's friend. What a lovely gift. It has made a stunning quilt.

And this is Phillipa's Eungella quilt. Each year she works on a particular quilt and it looks like she nailed this one this year.

You can never go wrong with black, white and yellow. Joan has made a happy and bright quilt here.

Joan and Charmaine use the same pattern every year to make quilts in different fabrics. Joan's was a very calming blue.

Everyone just fell in love with Joan's gorgeous bright giraffes. And that is one stunning piece of background fabric.

Del finished piecing this Crossed Kayak quilt. It must be the modern version of the old Crossed Canoes pattern.

Brenda finished her half-hexie Christmas Charity tablerunner

Brenda's Eungella Quilt

Marilyn added some borders to her fairy panel.

Marilyn has always wanted to have one of the ironing and iron carrier mats. Someone at retreat was able to lend her the pattern.

Marilyn's Zigzag charity tablerunner.