Wednesday 30 August 2017 - Welcome to Spring Morning Tea

Never let it be said that Bucasia Beach Quilters are slow on the uptake. Here we are celebrating Spring 2 days early! What a lovely morning it was too, with over 30 ladies, some returned from holidays, a couple of visitors and others making a special effort to come out, to raise money to support those in our district with cancer.  There were games and chatting and the usual Show and Tell and a simply scrumpious morning tea. (Not picking anyone's cooking over anyone else's, but the date scones, caramel peanut slice and passionfruit vanilla slice were extremely delicious - and that was just the three things I tried. Thought I should stop at three!) Seems quilters can cook just as well as they sew.

The tables were set up in an open circle although we had to keep adding chairs as numbers went beyond expectations.

Tables were set with lace or embroidered cloths and a lovely spring bouquet.

The first activity was to pair up and construct a hat suitable for the Spring Racing Carnival. Not sure millinery is our crafting expertise. Winner was Vera with the gorgeous retro pillbox hat. (Maybe a couple of Snow White's dwarves tried to sneak into the photo?)

Heather's and Iris's spectacular creation really suited the racing scene. (Some people were fortunate to get more than black and white newspaper.) And Deane's old fashioned bonnet is just charming. (Thanks to Iris for the photo.)

Joan was the winner of the "Prettiest Teacup" with this lovely Royal Doulton one from Julie's Grandmother's china. (Seeing she borrowed it from Julie, Joan very kindly gave her the prize.)

The Lucky Door prize of a book and sewing needs for English Paper Piecing was won by Di. (Not sure how excited our resident machine piecer was about that.)

The Lucky Spots were won by Joan, Iris and Doreen.

We were encouraged to enjoy the party games. Lesley won Pass the Parcel and Robyn was a little concerned Spin the Bottle was coming next. But it was Helen who had the most items in her handbag from the list of 29. Yes, she even had a not so current membership list.

Doreen won the prize for the most Springlike Outfit and now has a lovely hand embroidered placemat and matching cupcake mugrugs to use when her sewing friends come for a cuppa.

Vera sold her beautiful handmade cards and all proceeds went to the fundraising. (Over $100 - thank you Vera.)

The total amount raised from the morning was $431.15. Well done ladies!

Beth brought in 3 quilts to show she has still been sewing in her absence. This quilt features the first embroideries Karen got her to do as handwork when she first joined the club. These are also the last embroideries Beth will be doing! The quilt is going to a friend from New Zealand.

This quilt is destined for NZ too being made for the daughter of her friend who lives near the sea. Beth has made two quilts with these fabrics and this is the last of the scraps. It was quilted on what Beth will always call "Faye's big machine quilter".

Beth has made this bright quilt for a lady who has never met her 4 year old granddaughter. Won't the little girl be excited when she pulls this from the box?

Last time Joan visited us from Mount Isa she had about 30 of these diamonds pieced. She has now completed sewing 1997 little hexagons and is halfway through handstiching the first border on. The next two borders will be machine sewn. All fabrics except the cream spot background are Liberty fabrics so there is some expensive fabric in this quilt! Joan has been working on the hexagons for 2-3 years and so thinks maybe the quilt will need hand quilting. What a beautiful heirloom it will be.

Thank you to Barbara and Lynn for doing all the work organising this very lovely morning. Hope they enjoyed the preparations as much as we all enjoyed the resulting morning activities. 

Wednesday 23 August 2017

A smaller number of ladies were present this morning to share the last of Delma's brother-in-law's birthday cake. But it was all gone before birthday girl Margaret arrived.

Dave the Scissors Man was kept busy for an hour or so. He told us we all buy the wrong type of scissors as we should have ones with a screw to take the blades apart and we should get them sharpened more frequently which means not so much steel has to be removed. You learn something new every day. And pity anyone who misuses the sharp fabric scissors now!

Robyn brought her Rule Steady in today to show everyone what a great aid it was to keep your ruler in one place when cutting strips without putting stress on fingers and hands.

See a video demonstration and details at www.keepquilting.com.au 

Lesley won the Badge Draw today but wasn't paying attention and missed the excitement of her ticket being called. But Del did give her the Needleworx voucher anyway.

Show and Tell today only involved BomBs. (Block Of the Month Bonanzas)

This month's, a simple Tulip pattern was demonstrated today. It makes a big 9" X 19" block and we may be able to make twin quilts when all the blocks come in.

And last month's Simply Delightful blocks were delivered by Brenda today. She found enough fabric in the bag to do a double mitred border. Thanks Brenda. It looks ......simply delightful.

Wednesday 16 August 2017

There was a big discussion in the kitchen today on whether we needed the fans on yet or has summer started or will we get another couple of weeks of winter. It doesn't look like it. Conditions are extremely pleasant for sewing and chatting at the moment though, and that we did!

Advance notice! There is painting to be carried out at the hall and there will be no meetings there during the school holidays - 20 and 27 September. We will find somewhere else to go for a travelling meeting so keep in touch.

Brenda won the Badge Draw this week and now has a couple of vouchers to use at Needleworx.

 Del made this cute birdie cushion cover from a kit she purchased at Quilt Connect. She saw so many shops there, she has forgotten which one it came from.

 Iris's daughter-in-law's parents have moved into a home and require lap quilts. So Iris has quickly whipped up two. They are just tops at the moment, but will be in Bowen by next week. Isn't the geometric green a great quilt for a man?

 And Iris required border colour ideas for this one as she has used every single piece of the purple fabrics in making this top. That Disappearing 9-Patch makes a quick but stunning top. Well done Iris.

The BomB Lady thought she'd display the blocks on the stage today but unfortunately there was not sufficient light for a decent photo up there. But you get the idea. She is quite pleased with how this scrap pattern called Simply Delightful turned out even though the white and gold fabrics should have been reversed for maximum impact. But we are using fabrics from Heather's stash so we have what we have. The two missing blocks belong to Brenda who left them on her ironing board today. For this misdemeanour Brenda gets to take these 18 blocks home and sew the quilt top together! (Thanks for volunteering Brenda.)

Wednesday 9 August 2017

It was Annual General Meeting today so thank you to all ladies that were in attendance and a special thank you to those volunteers that will guide our club for the next year. Welcome to new President Delma,Vice-President Marilyn moving postitions, new Secretary Liz and old Treasurer Cathy. (Not that she's old, but you get what I mean.) The blogperson was absent due to essential government business (unfortunately) and so still needs to catch up on what happened.

There was only a tiny Show and Tell.

 Joan made this colourful quilt with some very cute I Spy fabrics. It has gone to a niece in Melbourne who has a special little friend to give it to.

Lynn and Cathy were the only basket makers who brought their finished pine needle baskets to show everyone. (Cathy isn't cranky with hers - we have just caught her explaining how they were made.)

Lynn won the Monthly Raffle and no one could remember who won the Badge Draw.

Making Baskets

We were very impressed with some pine needle baskets we saw at Yakapari Country Crafts made by Angie Hayward and we were even more impressed when we found out that Angie teaches classes in basket weaving. So 7 BBQ ladies drove up to The Leap today to learn the tricks. And apart from some sore thumbs, we all enjoyed the workshop and are very pleased with our little baskets. Everyone finished a small basket (except for Brenda who had a lunch appointment and couldn't stay) and most bought more materials so they can continue basket making at home. Yes - another craft! But it is sort of sewing.

 All participants working hard. (And not many pine needles on the floor at this stage!)

 Finished baskets of Del and Cheryl

 Finished baskets of Lynn and Robyn

 Baskets of Cathy, who didn't have time to add decorations and Lesley, who didn't want to add them.

End of the day. Participants with their creations. (Yes, that was a whole day's work! They look very tiny when we hold them, don't they?) It wasn't a workshop requirement to wear blue, but we are all very coordinated!

Basket weaving classes with Angie Hayward are $25 per person.  Minimum of 5 participants. All materials supplied except needle. Contact Yakapari Country Crafts 0749 540 547 for further information. 

Wednesday 2 August 2017

Well it was back to same old, same old today after the excitement of last week. We had a few comments from past members who enjoyed the morning so much they wondered if they should not join the club again. And many of us were inspired to extend our quilting adventures. Maybe we needed our enthusiasm spurred on a little.

Congratulations and thanks to Robyn and the original foundation members of our club. There has certainly been a lot of therapy and fun in the guise of stitching over the past 30 years. 

Today we had a note from Kath, currently living in WA. She renewed her membership in the hope that it will not be too long before she is back with us permanently. She sent greetings to all and expressed thanks for this club which has given her so many friends and good times.

Liz was taken to lunch today in honour of her 80 birthday tomorrow. We don't usually mention birthdays, but this one is pretty special Liz. Many Happy Returns.

It was BomB Day today where the BomB Lady so emphasized the need for accurate 1/4" seams that some people were reluctant to try the pattern! Another Japanese fabric scrap quilt block today and we still have some left from Heather's stash.

Lynn was the lucky winner of the Badge Draw.

Reminder: Annual General Meeting 9:30 next week 9 August. We need a quorum of 25. Please make an effort to attend.

There were some lovely big, small, quick and time consuming items in Show and Tell this morning.

 Del has made this quilt for her daughter Kelly. It is a jelly roll pattern but of course she cut all the strips herself. 

 Fay is only making small quilts now. This one is very "un-Faylike" as it only has three fabrics in it and the flower fabric is a new one she bought because she fell in love with the pretty fabric. Still hand quilted though. Well done Fay.

 This quilt was started when Diana was supposed to be doing housework but just checked the emails and saw a tutorial for this pattern and thought, "I can do that." And the rest is history. No extra fabric (well, just the backing) was bought in the construction of this quilt. Yes, no jelly rolls here, but Diana cut a strip from every floral fabric she owned.

 Joke is making a couple of cent sale prizes for the Spinners Jamboree. A very pretty cross-stitched embellishment on a hand towel.

 Cathy's neighbour is having another baby and the toy that had the heart beat inside for the last baby was past its use by date. So Cathy made this cheery little dog with a back pocket that the noisebox and battery fits in. 

Margaret has been working on this quilt for a very long time. She always wanted to make a Double Wedding Ring quilt and probably started collecting the fabrics for it 18 years ago. She borrowed the templates from friend Jan who had done a workshop and knew all the tricks. She has now returned the templates to Michelle. Margaret loved every part of making this quilt, except maybe getting the curved pieces to fit the squares. It is beautifully hand quilted - Margaret's favourite bit.  The pink and green are the curtains in her house that she doesn't live in any more. But she adores the quilt and is already sleeping under it.