Christmas Greetings

Christmas Greetings to all our readers.

Hope you all have had some decent rain and if you haven't , let us hope that some falls soon on our parched dry land and it would be the best Christmas gift of all.

I wonder if Dorothea Mackellar should have been a delegate to the Copenhagen talk fest instead of our illustrious representatives that Australia sent along. What's that got to do with our patchwork group? Absolutely nothing except we all rely on the land and its productivity to keep our spirits up, just like we all try to spend time at our sewing machines and cutting mats to keep our spirits up.

Hope the gift bags are full of quilty articles and you all enjoy some wonderful quality family time.

Some time out from the sewing machine and designing and planning etc does make for an eagerness to start sewing again you know. Enjoy the break, don't of course over indulge in the food and beverage stakes and we'll see you again sometime in 2010. Wow! is it 10 years since we had to worry about the year 2000 and all the " doomed computers".

Does anyone else feel older each year getting ready for Christmas or is it just me?

Workshop Results

What a weekend we all had. Let's hope we all have gone home for a holiday. Could you call THAT a RETREAT ? A snapshot of some busy girls, hard at work cutting and sewing and of course more cutting. I have heard on the grapevine about one more finished quilt. This one has the borders on already. Just enough fabric to complete it. Sorry no pic available as the pieces were pulled down too fast. The owner just loves the eyelashes. See, told you learning foundation piecing is worth it.

This is the first one stitched together. It still requires further borders and finishing cuts.

These are some blocks using a similar focus fabric to the other one with a mixture of the same fabrics plus a few different ones. Happy sewing Sandra. This was her first effort at foundation piecing also . Some are only pinned at this stage, but all are looking good.

Further updates as the work progresses. Thanks for an enjoyable but TIRING weekend girls. I had to go to work for a holiday. Ruth

Dyeing Workshop Costs.

The cost for the fabric dyeing workshop on Sat 31 Oct if you are not bringing along your stash of dyes is $13.50 . This covers the cost of dyes and soda ash. If you are only paying for the soda ash it will cost you $1.50. This covers the cost for the basic 24 step colourwheel using a fat or skinny quarter.

Hope the preparations for the strips n curves workshop at the same time are well in hand.
Ruth can bring along a couple of ironing rolls for the pressing of the strips as she has found some more old tent posts. Has anyone else thought of an ironing board. At least we'll have well pressed clothes if we decide to "go out " for tea. Don't know if I'll have room in the car for my swag. Has anyone else got that problem?
Final preparations will be sorted out Wed 28 October at our next sewing day. See you then.

News , News and News

Hope the entries are coming along well for the Mt Perry Art Exhibition. If you need some assistance for your machine quilting check out a blog devoted to trying new quilting patterns. http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/2009/09/day-45-pug-eyes.html

There is also a new magazine soon to be launched in December called Down Under Textiles published by the same publisher as Down Under Quilts. The editor is also looking to suggestions for content.http://onceaponceatime.blogspot.com/ Contact Deborah if you have any ideas you would like to see in a magazine.
Don't forget the upcoming events for October. Looks like Mt Perry is set for a busy time once school resumes.

Workshop Details

Yes we are off for a fun weekend to ....... Mt Perry here we come.

October 31 and November 1st 2009 will see us sewing until we dye at the Tin Shed.

Costs are $10 for non Sport & Rec members to cover the accommodation costs and members free of course. Ruth is the tutor and she is happy to donate her fees to the Cancer Fund. The amount will be at the discretion of the participant.



We are actually doing 2 workshops. A strips n curves workshop over 2 days and a fabric dyeing session for new dyers doing the 24 step colourwheel. If you are an experienced dyer and wish to do your own thing bring your equipment etc along and join in the fun. The dyeing costs will be calculated on the day as to how much dye and chemicals you use.



The photo is a sample of blocks made from the basic pattern for strips n curves. These patterns have been used with permission from Louisa Smith of the Strips n Curves books.
Workshop requirements were listed at the recent patchwork day. Email Ruth for a comprehensive list if required. Dyeing requirements were also listed but final arrangements can be discussed at the patchwork day Oct 7. Hope you are all excited about our overnight sewing bee.
Almost forgot, the workshop is the weekend AFTER the Art Exhibition so there is no excuse for not finishing your entry into the textile section.

Comings and Goings

Like ships that pass in the night .... so are the ladies of our patchwork group.
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Ruth had to leave before Narelle was able to make it after work, and Kerry had been and gone but would return.
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Patty was able to pop in after work but Sandra and Margaret had gone earlier and Fay was on her way out but Kerry had returned.
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If I've forgotten anyone, my apologies, we can be hard to keep track of. Here is some of the work that some of the girls have been working on.

Plans are underway for a fun fabric weekend, stay tuned.