Wednesday 17 August 2016

Absolutely beautiful sewing weather! Maybe a few people decided to stay home to get something done today, although there are quite a few on holidays as well. But those of us who trotted out to Bucasia were treated to a lovely little Show and Tell as well as much happy chatting and camaraderie. Delma won her first Badge Draw today and picked out a Mackay Sewing Centre voucher from the goody bag.

Anne has made this as a bright summer quilt for herself as she loves blue. It is just a simple Snowball block with the snowballs all being 'fussy cut' from Kaffe Fassett fabrics.

This is a more recent quilt of Joke as she is still adding the binding. Everyone was taken with the fantastic dramatic colour scheme and then Joke tells us that she was too when she saw the quilt hanging on the wall of a shop in Armidale and then found out that they sold the pattern in kits. Even the fabrics were precut and so it went together quite quickly.

Joke brought in her Chicken Scratch quilt today that has been in use for over 23 years. Although we believe it is also called Depression Lace and that is a much prettier name. She had originally sashed it with Broderie lace but didn't like the look of it and so unpicked the lot and added the checked sashing and borders the same as the blocks.

Marlena bought this Crabapple Hill pattern in Las Vegas of all places. She has been embroidering for some time but it was the centre stars that were holding the construction up. In the end, Marlena ditched the 6" Martha Washington Stars and made something a trifle simpler. A beautiful feature of this quilt is that the embroidery extends into the pieced blocks.

Only Marlena would go to such trouble for a label. (But she did let slip that she actually cut that block the wrong size and so had to redo it.)

Only another 6 blocks came in today and it looks like it will be a very small BomB quilt this month. Cheryl got to draw the name out as she won the BomB last month, but despite telling her she wasn't allowed to draw her own name out, she did! Congratulations Cheryl. You shall be very busy for a while.

Wednesday 10 August 2016

A brand new quilting year began today with the holding of our Annual General Meeting. Nothing much has changed though, with the only alteration to the executive being the elevation of the Acting Secretary to Secretary status. But formal proceedings count little for the activities of the club and we still have the annual retreat, a "Table Runner Month", some charity quilts and a Chris Timmins workshop all on the horizon.

There was only a short Show and Tell today, which was just as well as the AGM and the August Committee Meeting took up much of the morning. Although there was still time to sample some deliciously fluffy pumpkin scones. (Thanks Kaye.)

Iris won the Badge Draw and Brenda was most surprised to win the Monthly Raffle. Congratulations ladies.

As only ten BomB blocks were ready today, we extended the draw for another week hoping that those who didn't get around to completing the block will have a go this week. 

Aren't the BomB blocks handed in so far looking great? Love that pink, purple, blue colour scheme.

Kaye is looking very pleased as this is the very last block from the Di Mansfield workshop from some years ago finally finished. There are 30 of the delightful embroidered teddies and flowers blocks so piecing and embellishing have taken some time. Whatever is Kaye going to sew on Wednesday mornings now though?

Del sat in on the Dresden Plate lesson with Joan's Beginner Patchwork Classes. She even made two of them and added some scraps for this lovely tote which should fit all her sewing goodies for retreat - well, some of them anyway.

Wednesday 3 August 2016

There was a small crowd today. Maybe it is getting close to AGM time!

Please don't forget the AGM next Wednesday 10 August. Remember, a club only functions as much as members are prepared to get involved in running it.

It was a great thrill today to see the proceeds of the Charity Quilt raffle being handed over to the Northern Beaches Girl Guides. It was also BomB (Block Of the Month Bonanza) day, Liz handed over her last Blanket of Love for a while as she pursues some slightly larger quilt making for abused children, and there were some very different quilts at Show and Tell. Joke was very lucky to win the badge draw after only joining us for a few weeks. Some people have been coming for years and have still not won!

President Marilyn accepting a certificate of appreciation from Amy and Joely of Northern Beaches Girl Guides after handing over our cheque for $1782. The guides will be getting new non-leaking tents for their camps and a sewing machine to learn to sew bags for the camping equipment. What a good result all round!

The demo for today's BomB, Delectable Mountains. Easy as pie! (Well, we'll see next week.)

This is third week in a row Marilyn has brought along something finished. Well done Marilyn. Keep up the good UFO work! Marilyn saw Phillipa making a quilt like this at last year's retreat and thought "I can do that", so she did. The circles are raw edged appliqued with straight stitch and it has already had one session through the washing machine to rumple up the edges a little.

Jean started this at last year's retreat too. All but one of the fabrics used in the blocks have been included in the border.

And all the left over pieces of fabric were used up in the pieced backing. Almost as much work in the backing as in the front piecing! 

Cheryl made this quilt for her neighbour who is going through a rough patch. The neighbour had been talking about patchwork and how much she loves purple and Cheryl saw that as a sign that she should get out all her purple fabrics and quickly make a quilt for her. Let's hope this really cheers her up!

Cheryl pieced the blocks QAYG so the back is a lovely framed patchwork of its own.

In the tradition of last year's raffle quilt for the Spring Fair, Kaye has once again helped with her Carlyle Gardens Craft Group. This crazy patch with embroidered teacups and teapots is sure to be a draw card. Joan did the machine quilting.

Barbara has remade this bag which was originally constructed from one of Linda's kits but she was never entirely happy with how it turned out. There was a lot of work in remaking it, but she loves it now.

Wednesday 27 July 2016

A beautiful winter's day in tropical Mackay. The only thing better than sitting and sewing and chatting would be if there was fudge....and there was!
There were welcomes today for a new member, a past member visiting and for the ladies from Breastscreen. There was much wandering around the hall to greet others and to to see what they were up to. Not sure a lot of sewing was accomplished although three of 'Joan's girls' were progressing well with their sampler quilts.
Deane won the badge draw today and will visit Mackay Sewing Centre with her voucher shortly.

Marilyn, Di and Julie handing over the last of the Breastscreen quilts. Although the Breast Cancer Awareness fabric was donated, the ladies making the quilt tops added fabric, thread, wadding and backings of their own. And Di quilted each one. Well done to all sewers and helpers.

The ladies from Breastscreen were delighted with the quilts. They assured us that they always have positive comments from clients about the quilts hanging in their foyer and everyone wants to win the quilt that is being raffled. They are producing an article about the quilts for a national health magazine that they hope will raise the profile of Breastscreen as well as giving BBQ a little plug.

Marilyn went to Lord Howe Island and came back with this colourful painted apron after taking part in a workshop. This, along with the superb snorkeling, was the highlight of the trip.

Iris has decided to stop buying fabric and use up all her scraps. This little scrappy quilt has a farm theme with flowers and fruit and roosters and even potatoes! It goes to some little relatives so they will stop fighting over the one she has already made for them.

Marlena has used the Pellon 821 On-Point grid to easily sew up this table runner and matching placemats. The whole project was apparently sewn in just 1 hour (That is "Marlena sewing time".) but just look at how accurate those corners are. 

Marilyn is very happy with the quilting Di has just completed on this quilt. Marilyn started this at last year's retreat (or maybe the year before) and was going to make a big quilt but ran out of fabric as well as steam. The golden quilted feathers certainly add to the 'olde world' effect.

Three weeks away

Patchwork mornings still went on while the blogperson had a little holiday. (It is good to know that not completely everything shuts up shop while I'm away!) But there was one week that nothing was brought in for Show and Tell (Suffering post-fair blues apparently) and one week where no reliable photographer could be found. (Despite the photographs appearing here sometimes needing major photographic advice.)
But here are some of the articles that have been shown in the past three weeks.

Kaye made this quilt (with a little assistance from daughter-in-law, Michelle) for her son Graham.
The colours were inspired by his classic yellow Monaro which is garaged within the house.

Marlena was the first to finish her Mariners Compass from the paper piecing workshop with
Margaret from Patchwork Paradise. She made it into a handy block carrier folder. 

The matching fabric cushions were made by Marlena to go with the quilt below.
One is a large Drunkards Path and the other a Disappearing 9-patch.

The Drunkards Path quilt was put together in a different pattern to the cushion.
This pattern meant that no seams have to match up. Good thinking Marlena!

June's very quick Bricks and Stepping Stones BomB. We think they look great.
They were won by Cheryl. Let's hope she likes earthy colours!

Anne has made this tablecloth using a Map of the World panel. Let's just hope she has a
better map to find the way on her road trip through the Americas. Happy travelling Anne.

Anne was the winner of the May BomB and has pieced the Reverse Applique Hibiscus
into a colourful tablecloth.

The March Bomb was won by Robyn and she has pieced the chevrons together.
Borders will be added and it will be made into a lap quilt for herself to
 keep in memory of Jan who had suggested the pattern.

Quilt and Craft Fair

Well after months of preparation and anticipation, it is all over. Sorry you missed it as it was a great couple of days of fabric, quilts, machines, raffles and prizes, seeing the new and trending directions in sewing craft and a mind blowing plethora of ideas and things to add to the wish list. Over 400 people visited over the two days - although maybe the election was a bigger drawcard than us on Saturday!

A couple of early shots of the hall.

And one of some smiling and welcoming rostered door and raffle people.

Here are some shots of the quilt display which brought some stunning comments. Yes, even the early quilts. (They were pretty good quilts really!)

And here are some shots of the various trader tables - except we forgot to photograph the Red Bus! How could we forget the Red Bus? Luckily the shoppers didn't forget them! And no photos of Lizzie either, sorry.

Mackay Sewing Centre

Molly Dooks

Sew Patch and Quilt

BBQ members items and gifts

Old Willow Cottage

Sew and Patch

Needleworx

The wonderful lucky door prize was taken away by a very excited visitor who had a 23 year old machine which needed replacing.

The challenge blocks all looked very modern and colourful. Congratulations to first, second and viewer's choice winners.

The demonstrations were very popular. This is the end of the Paper Piecing one given by Marg of the Red Bus where some people stayed on to keep asking questions.

Thanks to members of the club who rallied to help out with this great event. But it was really Di Hope's baby. Thanks for everything Di. Hope you feel pleased at the result.