Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Christmas and New Year Activities
Kerry has also finally been allowed to tell the world about her success in the DUQ Blankets of Love 2008 competition.
Narelle is still getting everything in order to meet all her Christmas and New Year Deadlines.
The rest of us are no doubt busy also.
Our Christmas trip ( a bit late in early January but who really cares) is organised for Jan 7,8,9.
We are off to the WagnerHilton at Proston for Wed night. (just don't forget the aerogard) At least there is a hot water system that now works there.
Thursday, is continuing to Toowoomba for 2 days of Shop til we wilt. Notice we are going to a cooler place.
We have accommodation organised in Toowoomba O/N in a self contained unit. The Myer store is open until 9pm so our wallets can really be emptied. We hope to arrive back in Mt Perry sometime Friday. So save your dollars, forget about the Chrissie shopping and save up for patchwork shopping.
The itinerary of shops is still being worked out but there is more there than Mt Perry has so we should have a good time.
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We are off to an early start and I heard a whisper that we are going to be really busy with STUFF in 2009.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Still Here
We hope to organize one more sewing day before Christmas but be warned, it could be at short notice. A nice morning tea followed by a lovely lunch, with some sewing in between of course. And don't forget the chit-chat.
Plans are in the pipe-line for a shopping trip sometime in January. Fabric dyeing is also on our 'would like to do' list along with another retreat so stay tuned.
Monday, November 10, 2008
A Sewing Frenzy
Friday, October 31, 2008
Has Anybody been Sewing??????
BUT preparations are being made to fix that problem.
2 days of sewing are planned for the Sat 8 and Sun 9 November. The girls have a project organised for the lucky ones who can attend.
The busy social calendar is hotting up in Mt Perry again with the Truck Pull and Art Show this weekend. So even less time for sewing but I'm sure all these other activities make our sewing life better.
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Girls Night In
Drawn – October 3rd, 2008
Winner – Angelene of Gayndah
Ticket was purchased at Arts, Beads and Crafts,
An amount of $1907.00 was raised through ticket sales
and the “girls night in” function held on 3rd October.
This amount will be forwarded to Qld Cancer Council.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
A movie; chemo friendly beauty treatment and lessons in self examination were all part of the evening. All who attended were rewarded with a fun night out.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Quiet Patchwork Day
Ruth has completed her runner for the girlsnightin and Narelle has just a little more hand sewing on the binding of the small wall hanging. All other preparations are well in hand.
Hopefully next patchwork day a few more can make it. It's getting close to that silly time of the year when we are just all so busy.
Happy Sewing
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Sewing Day = Busy Girls
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Ideas For Spring Sewing Activities Please
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Our Non Event Day AGAIN!
Isn't it a shame that living gets in the way of patchwork. Both activities form a symbiotic relationship as patchwork looks after your mental health but isn't it a shame when the balance sometimes can't be achieved.
This is what happens when you only have a small group.
Plans are well in hand for our Girls Night In Cancer Fundraiser and Awareness Night in October. Keep an eye on the countdown. Hope the raffle ticket sales are progressing well.
Lets hope for some sewing action on Friday 29th.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Next Sewing Day
At least Kerry and Narelle have been busy entering the Blankets of Love competition. No pictures are allowed so you will have to wait and see if they are successful.
The raffle tickets for our Cancer Quilt are being sold in many places. They are available from Arts Beads and Crafts in Bundaberg , various locations in Mt Perry so hopefully we will have some sales.
The Bundaberg Quilters Exhibition has been and Patty's sister Denise was a lucky winner of a daily raffle prize. The quilts were good to look at also. I think the white machine embroidered quilt made of all the small blocks won the viewer's choice award and the black and white challenge quilt winner was the penguin quilt above the challenge desk.
Ruth has been for a quick visit to the RNA Ekka and saw the Quilts Across Queensland show.
There were about 120 quilts to see. The hanging space is a bit crowded but well worth the viewing so if you have a chance to visit the Ekka put this on your must see list.
The dairy goats were very interesting animals as well at the Ekka. One was asleep with its head in the feed bucket. The dairy cows were also being prepared for their judging. Some have shaved tails and some have completely shaved bodies. The manufacturers of electric shavers and hair dryers must love showtime.
Back to patchwork on Friday so hope to see everybody there.
Friday, July 25, 2008
It's Rainin Again
Next week it is the Bundaberg Quilters Exhibition and certainly well worth visiting. Wonder how Patty's Challenge Quilt will fare ? She is so proud that it is finished. Much better than Ruth's effort which is still in the fat quarter stage in the shopping bag.
Narelle is currently participating in a finish items by July's end challenge so with her enforced stay at home because of the roads hopefully that is happening.
Do all quiltmakers need a deadline to actually finish everything or does boredom with your current project win and it becomes a UFO while you start something else?
As Ruth has been sitting quietly handquilting her "must finish by 30th August project" she has been pondering her next project. It's amazing how many experienced quilters are right in their advice about this craft. Maybe it is better to start 10 things and work concurrently on them so the dreaded boredom does not set in. This at least allows you to live comfortably with the mess from that number of projects and be guilt free about your number of UFO's.
Our last posting about our cancer fundraising quilt was would you believe our 100th posting.
It is amazing that we have been online for 2 years. We try to post weekly so we are not doing too bad. Must give ourselves a congratulatory pat on the back.
Hope to catch up with you all next week at the Exhibition in Bundaberg.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Cancer Quilt
Here it is!! Finished at last, and tickets are selling hot! We are very proud of our efforts and hope that we can raise heaps for the cancer foundation. We're off to a good start and drawing date is not till October 3rd.
Last patchwork day (July 11), proved to be a great catchup for most. Narelle even came along; bringing with her both daughter and mother to join in the fun.
Sunday, July 06, 2008
Inspirational Moments
BUT does it have to be in the ( fog) more like mist. Some of us started a trek on Sunday morning with some doubts about the weather. Raincoats came in very handy as we made it to the top. Up the cow paddock hill, through the wattle scrub, over the rocks, through the hoop pine forests, over some more rocks and through the eucalypts to the top. A small rest at the top and back down the way we came up. You could see nothing but cloud at the top.
Here is someone pleased to stand and overlook the town in the misty background on the way down.
A bit over 4 hours of climbing, laughter, puffing and panting and questioning our motives and sensibilities, and we were home again to a hot shower, feeling that sewing in front of a log fire is a better option on a rainy day.
But when you see scenery like these mossy rocks around the massive fig tree you have to be inspired by your surroundings to enjoy your own backyard.
BUT How come every time Patty has a suggestion lately it involves getting wet.
She has taken us kayaking on Paradise Dam, climbing Mount Perry in the wet, so where will she take us next?
Maybe the Bundaberg Quilters Exhibition????
Friday, July 04, 2008
Sewing Day 27 June
Other members grabbed the unexpected opportunity to attend and had an enjoyable if a bit cold kind of day. Mt. Perry Hall is notorious for being cold in the mornings.
A new patchworker also joined us for the first time, vowing to come back with her work completed in 2 weeks.
The Cancer Quilt raffle tickets have arrived and booklets have been handed out. Kerry has had very brisk ticket sales meaning the rest of us had better find other people to ask. That might be hard in a small place like Mt. Perry. A photo will be displayed when it has been photographed hanging in a commercial place in Mt. Perry.
Kerry actually finished blanket stitching her cot quilt bears in between selling raffle tickets to any person she saw in Mt. Perry that day.
Ruth has been hand quilting her large " secret quilt'. She has now finished cross hatching the centre panel.
Fay was designing another granddaughter quilt.
Margaret was still working on her applique blocks and talking about art.
Irene continued on her new project she had started a few days earlier with Kerry's assistance.
School holidays are a good time for catching up with small projects while the usual school trips and catching the blasted school bus does not have to happen. Next Friday 11 July we might see some young ones visit with us. Hope so.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
More Patchy News - Cancer Quilt Update
A variegated denim looking Signature Thread will be used so it should highlight different areas of the quilt.
Shop news! Alana's shop in Gin Gin also has some new patchwork fabrics ready for the shelves. There were about 10 bolts of fabric prints ready to be unwrapped and displayed for sale on the counter . The sales assistant quoted a price of $19.50/ metre before the unwrapping began , so if you are interested and have some spare time as you drive through Gin Gin call in.
Bundaberg Quilters Exhibition: The closing date for your Exhibition Form plus photo is June 28 2008 NOT Sat June 22nd. A glitch in the system there. Don't forget the Exhibiton is on August 1,2 and 3 hope these dates are correct. There will be some wonderful quilts to look at over that weekend.
See you all on the 27th.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Patchy News
There was a procession of patchworkers visit the hall on Friday mostly at different times.
Ruth visited early working on her large mystery project until she had to depart to Monto to attend the Festival preparations. She did manage to finish tidying up the quilt in preparation for sandwiching.
Margaret attended sewing her applique articles.
Patty rolled up with her patchwork tablecloth ( from last time) completed of course. There is a photo somewhere in the archives. She has finished her black and white challenge for the Bundaberg Quilters Exhibition in August. Mind you Ruth's is still in 4 black and white fat quarters in a plastic shopping bag from Patchwork On Pallas. ( November shopping spree) and that's where they will stay.
Narelle and Kath turned up sometime and as I was no longer there I'm not sure what they got up to.
Kerry went off to work for a few hours. Yes she now has a small source of patchwork money.
Sandra was on grandma duty so knowing her she was probably accomplishing a lot at home.
Kerry finished work hoping she didn't have to cook tea that night and returned. Her dreams were foiled and in the end went home and cooked tea . Maybe next time we may stay late.
Talking about money for patchwork fabric , Jenny Bowker has an interesting comment in her talking point column in issue 121 Down Under Quilts out now. Have a read and no longer feel guilty. I now like the idea of fabric superannuation.
The winning quilts from the NSW Sydney Quilt SHow are now on screen also hope this gets you there. http://quiltersguildnsw.com/quiltshow
STOP PRESS: the raffle quilt top has been finished and posted to the machine quilter. Kerry certainly has been busy.
Should be back from the quilter in a couple of weeks. Then we will have some good photos for you.
Note: the next patchwork day is 3 weeks away on June 27 so hope to see you there.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Free Motion in Progress
Monday, May 12, 2008
Cancer Quilt Update
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
More Applique
She hopes to finish some more soon to make a quilt for a special person.
Shadow applique involves placing organza over the raw edge applique shapes. Ruth uses 2 rows of machine stitching around each shape. This finishes off the edges and creates an overall delicate picture. A twin needle would give the same effect but tension problems would easily cause puckering.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Applique Centre Block
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
The Local Show
Cooking, sewing , craft work, woodchopping, horse events, cattle shows and ringside entertainment and of course some side shows, flowers,fruit,vegetables , floral art and schoolwork. There's even demonstrations of some things new and the proverbial old as well.
Yes it's all coming this Saturday April 19 at the Mt Perry Showgrounds.
So hope you have been avidly reading the schedule and been organising ( finishing ) your entries.
Here is one item that probably wont be entered as it should by now be on its way to its new owner. This quilt was made in 12 hours of machine sewing by Patty. It's to keep her daughter warm whilst in her gap year serving her country. I'm sure it will be loved in its new home. Patty's 2 sisters machine quilted it on their mid arm frame in 6 hours for her. Doesn't she have some lovely sisters?
Patty is a well known hoarder of bits and pieces. The bright pink patches are of an old shiny dressing gown and the finished item is certainly not how she envisaged it would be when she started. She just wanted to use up some calico. The new owners fave colour is you guessed it PINK!. Not that she is probably wearing much pink these days. Hope it keeps you warm Yanna.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Applique Techniques
There are quite a few of these and she has a production line in action buttonholing around all those small flowers. It was good to see her return and therapeutic for her to keep sewing.
Saturday 12 April sees the Charity Auction at the Grand Hotel Mt Perry to raise funds for the Burns Unit at RBWH Brisbane.
Margaret was busy with her pansy leaves. These are satin stitch applique using a variety of different machine embroidery techniques for the backgrounds. The total number of these pansy petals are quite high so we know what Margaret will be working on for awhile yet. Margaret is very good at artwork so we reckon she should start designing her own pattern line.
Margarets clever use of her fabric has ensured she now possesses swiss cheese fabric in her workbox. She is also very clever at her colour combinations.
More photoes will be displayed in our next post of our other projects.
Our next sewing day is May 9th because Anzac Day falls on our next Friday date. This is also a Bundaberg Agro Trend day so plan your busy schedules accordingly.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Some Good News at last
One of our members who has spent a while "working " in Brisbane at the Burns Unit assisting in the care of her family members has returned home. Eager to rev up the sewing machine and pick up the threads where they were interrupted weeks ago. She called in for a visit on Friday 28th vowing to return to sew on the 11 April.
A charity auction is being conducted on April 12 at the Grand Hotel Mt. Perry to raise some funds for the Burns Unit in Brisbane as a result of their misadventures.
Politically speaking we had some news as well, with a previous councillor from Mt Perry surviving a close count to be elected as our Division 5 councillor in the North Burnett Regional Council. Division 5 covers a large area and Mt Perry only has a small population within that area.
The Mayor of our new council was also the Mayor of Perry Shire Council so we know the interests of all in the North Burnett Regional Council area will be well served by these two people who have been elected to this new council.
Patchwork also plays a large role in the life of the new Blackall Tambo Council Mayor as Jan Ross is the current QCWA Piecemakers convenor. We have a link to their blog if you wish to visit .
We talk about large distances to travel around our area, she has a 2 hour drive just to get to her new office. Maybe she should employ a driver and she could do some hand piecing in that time.
The last sewing day saw Kerry proceeding with our latest adventure. A raffle quilt for a Cancer Fund Raiser. We purchased the fabric on our shopping spree in December. Ruth cut it up and Kerry has commenced sewing. Anybody wishing to assist with this project will be welcomed with open arms and given a small job.
The rest of us continued working on our projects. Patty spent the day preparing for her big adventure overseas. I hope she takes a camera with her.
Next patchwork day is during the school holidays so we may have some young ones with us learning to sew.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Our latest sewing adventures
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Sewing Day 29 Feb
This is Sandra's second quilt using these techniques. She has certainly put a lot of time and effort into this quilt. She is now a committed hoarder of all things nice that can be used for these blocks.
This is a close up of a basket block. There are two of these in this quilt. Look at all that machine embroidery. Hours of marking and sewing . That new Janome will need a rest soon.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Works in Progress 1
Some projects are well under way for 2008. Kerry has been feverishly finishing another baby quilt for another family arrival. The last one was featured on the blog and it turns out that was the only photo taken of it before the baby received it, so the photo was much appreciated.
This one is still at the basting stage. Kerry will be too busy travelling to worry about the quilting for 2 weeks.
Kerry has used some of her hand dyed fabrics as well as some prints. The baby will certainly love sleeping on this bright quilt.
More quilts next week as 3 cameras made it to patchwork today.
Friday, February 08, 2008
What Can We Do to Help?
This is one time to fulfill that mission for a community newsletter as on a sad note , one of our members family has been going through a bit of a tough time with some severe injuries to 2 of their children after a shocking accident last week.
The local school bus driver has even decided to donate his swear jar money to the Hospital Unit that the children are in. I'm sure he'd be grateful of some more donations to the cause without having to listen to the swearing of course. So how about it girls, what else can we do?
Lets hope the boys recover soon and you are all back home in Mt Perry with us again.
Friday, February 01, 2008
2008 Sewing Days
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Ready for 2008
We will be meeting in the Hall on Friday 1st February to catch-up not only with sewing but in all honesty there will be a lot of catch-up chat as well. After all the patchwork and quilting is only half the equation, the other half is friendship. So here's to a wonderful year full of both.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Encouraging the younger ones.........
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Have We All Left Town?
To keep the quilting theme alive here is a pic of a quilt that Ruth made some years ago.
It is foundation pieced and machine quilted using scraps of navy and yellow prints. It is a bit difficult to see the variegated thread used in this picture though.