Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Quilt Study Group etc

This email arrived recently from the Quilt Study Group............

"As you already know, the Frederica replica is currently on show at Old Government House Parramatta. What you may not realise is that the original coverlet is also on show - a rare treat since it is now quite fragile. The two coverlets are displayed so that authenticity of the replica can be appreciated."
 
 Here are the two coverlets - original on the right. I and several of my friends have blocks we made included in the replica
 Also in the email is info about some workshops you can do in January at Old Government House in Parramatta...................
 
 
Quilting Workshops – How the ‘Frederica Coverlet was Made'
Come and enjoy a couple of hours with the women who re-created our famous Frederica Josephson coverlet (C.1850). You will learn how the coverlet was made with the paper piecing method. You will also get an ‘up close and personal’ viewing of the original coverlet and the reproduction recently made by members of the Quilter's Guild of NSW.
 
Where: Old Government House, Parramatta Park, enter via Pitt St, Parramatta NSW 2150

When: Tuesday 22nd an Thursday 24th January. Two sessions each day 10am-12noon and 1-3pm

Cost: $10 per person - includes materials, kit and viewing of the original and replica ‘Frederica’ coverlets

Bookings Essential – ph 02 9635 819 or ogh@nationaltrust.com.au

Numbers: Limited to 10 per session.
 
ALSO in the email was news about a very special friend of mine. Lyn Dennis will be the guest speaker at the first meeting of the QSG next year.............
 
The first meeting of the Quilt Study Group of NSW for 2013
Date: March 9th
Where: Powerhouse Museum in the Charles Kerry Room room on 5th Floor. (Numbers are limited to 30. Please advise Sandra Lyons if you intend coming)
Speaker: Lyn Dennis will be talking about the Rachel-Kay-Shuttleworth collection in Gawthorpe Hall in Burnley UK which she visited last year.
 
NEW PATTERN IN MY ETSY SHOP!
The pattern for Chocolate Stars is available here.
Makes up to a double bed size quilt with lots of foundation piecing.
Easy flying geese too! Just the thing for some holiday sewing.
 


 
Hope all the shopping's going well and you're not too stressed!

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Day at the Guild

On the 1st of December I had the privilege to be the guest speaker at the NSW Quilters Guild last meeting for the year. A few friends were there for support and to hold up quilts for show-and-tell for me. Thanks guys. Terrible pictures cause the venue is so dark.
I chatted on about my quilting life and showed twenty quilts of different styles from the last 30 or so years.
It was a lovely day spent catching up with other guild members and enjoying the company of like-minded girls.

The Springwood Community Quilt Show committee was the featured group on the day. Here's Suzanne talking about the group and our work in running the show. We were able to borrow a few past raffle quilts to show and the latest one - Homage- was on display as well.
More info about this part of the day is here at the Quilt Show's blog.

In the latest issue of Australian Patchwork and Quilting I have a new project - my Lightning quilt.
It's Vol 22, No 2 available now.

The blocks were made using up a lot of  reproduction blues, browns and pinks plus lots of small print background fabrics. It made quite and dent in the stash. The blocks are pieced then sewn in rows and the rows are then sewn together to give this zig-zag effect. Quite effective I think.


The final border is this lovely repro pink and brown number. Just perfect and sitting on the shelf at the time. If you buy fabric you like when you see it, sometime down the track it will be there waiting to be used. That's my theory anyway!
I'm getting lots of sewing time lately so I'll have heaps to show you soon!

Saturday, December 8, 2012

We have a winner!

The winner of the pattern for this quilt and three fat quarters to go with it is
Amy from Amy's Crafty Shenanigans, a Canadian living in London.
Congrats Amy and to all those who didn't win you can find the pattern here in my etsy shop.
Thanks for all your comments everyone!

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

SMS Giveaway Day!

For Sewmamasew's Giveaway Day I'm giving away a pattern for this truly scrappy quilt and three fat quarters to go with it. The quilt is called Supernova Leftovers and it will use up quite a bit of your stash in the making.
The quilt makes up to be 65" square and the blocks are 14" finished.

The blocks are foundation pieced (don't be scared it's easy!) and the centre circle is appliqued.

The fat quarters are three I've chosen from the Hope Chest range here which I think will go well in this quilt.
Just leave me a comment telling me your thoughts on foundation piecing. I know lots of people avoid the technique but it's my favourite and SEW easy!
I'm willing to ship overseas so go for it guys! I will be randomly choosing a winner on 7th December.
Good luck!
 
 
 

Monday, November 26, 2012

Early xmas

 My Saturday girls had an early xmas party for the last class of the year. We had way too many sweet treats and some yummy savoury bits with a nice glass of bubbly too!
Alice surprised with her contribution of a triple-layer pavlova and choc coated strawberries! Too good.
It was show and tell as well with Pam finishing her Deco Lamp wallhanging...

and her Dahlia quilt top.

Alice has made a good start on her Chocolate Stars - just needs 98 flying geese now!

Helen has gone the extra mile again and finished the Ferris Wheel quilt she started at our last quilt camp. How clever with those setting triangles!
And Janice is working on her version of the same quilt.

All classes are coming to a close for the year with a lovely beach break on the horizon for me - can't wait.
If you're on holidays too over xmas have a look at this blog - Petit Design Co - 31 days worth of different quilting designs to use with a walking foot for those who are too intimidated by free-motion quilting. It looks so interesting!
And lastly if you're in the area on Saturday I am the guest speaker at the NSW Quilters Guild December meeting at Burwood RSL club from 12 noon.
Come along and say hi and listen to me waffle on about my quilting life.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Proud Mariners students from a Folklore class recently.

Kris' Dahlia quilted beautifully

Bev's Birds in Paradise completed with an extra border

Ann's working on some NYB blocks

There seem to be lots of Mariners nearing completion lately - here's a few

This is the Birdhouse Quilters group from Bomaderry with several projects.
I had a great time with a lovely host and excellent venue.
Grace is working the colour wheel in this NYB set. Love it.
I've had a little write up in the American magazine Quilt, Dec/January issue.
They feature a quilt on the last page of every issue and this time it's my Lots of Dots quilt!
Dreadful photo of me but the write up's great - thanks guys.
 

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Class action

This is our progress so far on the grand piano cover. It looks really good but I'm a bit worried about the next step of making it into an  octagon with sides that will fall down the sides of the piano.

Moyra's made this Pretty in Purple for her mum and has made great progress with adapting borders to suit size and what fabric's in the stash.
 
Jenny's version of Deauville looks good too. She's made it her own by altering the layout and adding different borders. I love to see that happening in class.

Marj is well on her way with the Lots of Dots BOM. She's using the one background fabric for all the blocks and it gives a very different effect.

Now this belongs to Alice. Check out the fussy cut diamonds that seem to make another circle around the centre compass. Well done!

Monday, October 22, 2012

Road trip

Where's Galong you ask?
About 210kms south west of where I live, on the road to Young and Cootamundra.
I was a tutor at the Galong Retreat this last weekend and the venue was St Clements Monastery.

The long driveway to this beautiful place

The front entrance to the Monastery

and this was my classroom. Big and so well lit from those big windows.
We had heaps of room and Black Possum quilt shop from Tea Gardens was the vendor.
My class was working on the Quilt-as-you-go Noodle Box and the results were amazing.
Lots of different styles but all looked good.

Some like Jackie even got to start on the quilting - lovely gloves!

The accommodation and dining room were excellent - ensuite rooms with table service at meal times.
Some of my dinner companions enjoying a tipple. 

The other tutors were Yan Pring, here with a sample from her class..
take a panel and slash and sew

Brenda Burgess was doing a curved piecing project

this is my class tho some had already left before show-and-tell. Marg Lowe was teaching an embroidery class - no pic sorry.
It was a great weekend and I can't wait to be asked back again!

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Nowra class

Carole sent me this pic of her Jacobean Star quilt done in a workshop at Tocal College this year.
It's looking beautiful.

Vicki from Idaho is doing my Lots of Dots quilt and this is just the beginning.
Can't wait to see the rest.
Marj has finished her Supernova for her grandson(?) and doesn't it look great.
There is a new listing in my etsy shop for this pattern. If you'd like to make one too check it out here.


At Jukejema in Nowra last week the girls were doing this.....
....and this. Not bad for two solid days of sewing.

And while I was at work the DH was doing this...

Would you buy a used car from this Stalker?? Don't you love the flag!
While you're here hop on over to the Springwood Quilt Show blog for the latest on our raffle quilt. It's so beautiful.