Wednesday 28 June 2017

It was a beautifully warm and sunny day in Mackay today and a goodly number of ladies came out to the hall for our meeting. Marilyn even brought her sewing machine (which apparently hasn't been turned on since the workshop) and finished stitching her workshop piece. It was BomB Day (Block Of the Month Bonanza) today and there was a very slack demonstation of the Disappearing Sashed 9-Patch pattern. The BomB lady is going away and didn't have time to whiz up a sample. She did email Di to bring her finished quilt in this pattern, not knowing Di is already away! Nevermind. There is always a video on the internet if further demonstration is required! Marlena kindly took charge of the leftover fabric and will sew the quilt when the completed blocks come back.

Vera came today after finally ditching some health issues and was rewarded by winning the Badge Draw. Well done Vera!

Marlena made this Dissapearing 9-Patch with some charm squares and jelly rolls. She wanted to make the quilt go over the bed to the floor but it was such an undertaking it was decided to make the quilt as big as she could with the material she had. It was suggested she have it quilted in gold, which has not only blended beautifully with the dark metallic squares, but has added a special dimension to the border.

Marlena has been practicing free machine quilting. All these blocks are quilted with the feed dogs down and the Westalee Rulers. For the patterns she didn't much like, she just made up her own instead. After having no amount of trouble trying to get the special foot on her machine to work with the rulers, one phone call to Westalee Rulers had the problem solved.

A close-up of one of the blocks

Marilyn's workshop piece called the Red Tree featuring a photo taken by her cousin in Kingslake, Vic (who would like the wallhanging when it is finished and bound but won't be getting it!) Marilyn is very pleased with how it has turned out.

Wednesday 21 June 2017 - Yakapari Outing

Only 16 ladies made the outing at Yakapari Country Crafts this morning, but those who went had a just lovely morning of chatting, sewing, browsing, buying, eating and sipping tea from china cups, and 10 of us even stayed for lunch at the Leap Hotel to make a day of it.
We were so impressed with the pine needle baskets on sale that we have arranged to attend a workshop. (See below.)
Del won the lucky door of a voucher to spend at the store (Seems she's winning everything this week.)
Thanks to Delma for making all the arrangements.

Pretty pastel china and lace tablecloths. What a charming setting.

 Wandering though the store and wondering just what we could buy...

Barbara thought she might need another red hat.

 Joke, Marilyn, Julie, Delma, Deborah

 Cheryl, Del, Carol, Iris, Mary, Robyn, Brenda

And the exclusive table of Barbara, Lynn and Liz

Ange makes these baskets from gathered and dried pine needles. Lynn and Del purchased one each. Then we found that Ange does workshops in making them. So we have arranged for BBQ to have a workshop on Thursday 3 August from 9-3. See Lesley or Lynn if you are interested to join us. Cost is $25. All materials (except needle) provided. (The basket will be smaller than those pictured.)

Mackay Regional Show 20-22 June 2017

Once again Bucasia Beach Quilters were sponsors and stewards for the Mackay Show. Robyn and Deane handled all the meetings and arranging for judging and hanging of quilts and have done a most competent job. There was a revision and update of the judging catergories this year so that all quilts are catered for.  35 quilts were entered this year which made a fine display without the crowding of the previous year.

Prize winners from our club are shown below.

Class 1- Pieced Quilt

First Prize and Best of Show - Del Uhr

Second Prize - Joan Flack

High Achievement and Best Hand Quilting - Lynn Hammet

Class 2- Mixed Techniques

Second Prize and Best Use of Colour - Diane Hope

Class 4- Wall Hanging

Second Prize - Del Uhr

Third Prize - Joan Flack

Class 5- Collaborative Quilt

First Prize and Best Machine Quilting (by Diane Hope) - Brenda Goggan

Second Prize - Diane Hope

Congratulations to these prize winners and to all our entrants. 

And thanks to all helpers and stewards with a special thanks to Deane and Robyn.

The  Viewer's Choice award went to the Paradise in Blooms quilt that was second prize in Class 2. Congratulations Diane Hope.

Wednesday 14 June 2017

Another winter's day with sunshine and sewing. What could be better?
Committee Meeting today and the year is moving along but there is still plenty happening quilting-wise.
No meeting at the hall next week! The hall will be closed. We are going to Yakapari Country Crafts for the morning. Bring something to sew as usual and enjoy a morning in the country. (Delma has given numbers. Please advise if you haven't put your name down.)
Other things coming up include the Mackay Regional Show - quilts were collected today, our 30th Anniversary Celebration morning 26 July,  the AGM 9 August and a Welcome to Spring Morning Tea to raise money for cancer 30 August.
Whenever will we find any time to sew?
Robyn complained that she never gets the right colour raffle ticket today but mananged to win both the Monthly Raffle and the Badge Draw. Seems she gets the right colour and number some days!

There were only 3 items for Show and Tell today and they all stretched the boundaries of standard patchwork. Unfortunately, once again, someone left the camera at home and so the photographs have been emailed from an iPhone. Apologies for the quality.

 Diana has been making these purses for all her lucky relatives. There are pockets and card holders and zipped compartments and they use 3 different types of interfacing. She thinks she has the pattern mastered now after making 9. And isn't that shoe fabric fantastic?

 Elaine has completed her workshop piece with a frame which really sets it off. It is harbourside at St Ives. 

 Barbara originally started these embroideries as panels for a bag, but they have framed up beautifully.

An enlargement to try and show the detail without reflections on the glass. (Not sure that actually worked.)

Wednesday 7 June

So the Blogperson has returned. Bundles of thanks to Di who has kept this site up to date. You have no idea how long she must have sat in front of the computer screen waiting for literary inspiration to strike. (But she must not have enjoyed it that much as she was very quick to pass the camera back today!)

We didn't even need to open the windows this morning for ventilation. The new glass panels make the hall much brighter though and maybe even look a little more modern and updated. Hall renovations will continue and the hall will be closed in two weeks time. NOTE: There will be no meeting at the hall on the 21st June! Instead, we shall take an outing to Yakapari for the morning.

Heather won the Badge Draw this morning (and finished appliqueing the first large block for her latest quilt project).

There was a small Show and Tell to match our small numbers. 

 Liz has finished another completely hand sewn and quilted lap quilt for the Women's Centre. The dainty pink roses in the background fabric are a perfect match for the 9-patches and Rail Fence.

 Di has finished a little quilt with the last of the extra butterflies made for the March BomB charity quilt. The very last butterfly is on the back. And it was quilted with butterflies of course. Thanks Di.

Delma has made this quilt with some pretty rose fabrics. She told us the name but we forgot to write it down. English Rose Garden? We will check when we apologise about using this photo instead of the one which had a lovely photograph of the maker, but the quilt was out of focus.