Quilters' Circle - 25th February, 2013

February and summer are nearly over. Today was warm enough for all of us! We enjoyed the air-conditioner for our get-together.

Glennys started blanket-stitching around this rose, which will become a cushion cover. The pattern was published in a magazine called Crafts Made Easy, and is called A Rose is a Rose. The designer was Julie McKenzie.

By the end of our time together, Glennys had completed the blanket-stitching. Maybe we will see the completed cushion next time?

Marie is adding the circles to the tops of the stems we have seen her working on before. Unfortunately she had left all her prepared circles at home today, but fortunately there were some scraps in the correct colours to be had, so she was able to make a few more so she could keep sewing.

Very cute!

Vireya brought along a pile of QAYG blocks she has been making from time to time since our last batch were sent to Jan Mac's Oz Comfort Quilts appeal.  The appeal is ongoing as there are always people in need of a little comfort; think of the recent fires in Tasmania and floods in Queensland.

Here's part of the pile of blocks spread out:

These have been made from off-cuts or scraps of batting, and donated or left-over fabrics. They are fun to make, and a great way to create something useful from scraps. If you would like to make a few blocks to add to the pile, you can find the instructions on Jan Mac's site here. Another blogger, Kaite, has written her own instructions which you can find here.

Our next meeting is a month away, as there is a public holiday on the second March Monday. We will see you again on 25th March. If you would like to make some QAYG blocks, maybe you can bring them along then?

Quilters' Circle - 11th February, 2013

Two whole months have gone by since our last meeting, so it was great to get together again today.


Marie made this quilt late last year, but we couldn't show it then as it was for a gift. Fortunately we have a couple of photos taken before the quilt was given away. Front:

Back:

The blocks were using a quilt-as-you-go method, from fabrics chosen to represent interests of the gift recipients, who were very happy to receive it.

Today there was a bit of show-and-tell of work done during our break. Marie made sets of these red-themed "inchies" for a swap with another group she belongs to. She has done tiny embroidery, pieced tiny pieces, and then quilted them as well.

Next time we see her she will have completed the swap, so we will see the whole collection of over 60 different inchies.

These log-cabin blocks are also Marie's work:

Interesting almost 3D effect caused by the arrangement of light and dark blues!

Vireya participated in Bonnie Hunter's Easy Street mystery. We saw some early parts of it at our last meeting, but here is the top all done:

It is a huge quilt, but at the moment it is in a few pieces, as Vireya is planning to quilt the sections and then join them together afterwards. Also during the break Vireya finished this wallhanging:

The design is "Whirlin' Dervish" by Margaret J. Miller. We have seen it before, when it was just a pieced top. But now it is complete, and after the meeting today Vireya took it home and hung it on the wall.

Carol was able to join us for a while, and worked on a block of this Robyn Falloon design "Airs and Graces". Carol started this when she did a Baltimore class with Robyn a few years back:

Carol also brought along the first quilt she ever started, which now has a border and is ready to move on to the quilting stage:

Glennys is getting closer to the end of her "My Blue Heaven" quilt (designed by Therese Hylton). If you look carefully at the picture you might see that the block she is working on is the last in the second-last row:

By the end of our session, the lighter blue lines were in place as well.

Joy had lots of show-and-tell today. She brought along several sets of "chance" blocks from Essendon Quilters, which date from the early years of that guild. (Joy was one of the foundation members of the guild.) Each month people made blocks to a particular design, then at the monthly meeting one of the participants would win a set of blocks. Joy seems to have been quite lucky! Here are a selection of her winnings:

Bowties.

Tulips.

Pretty flowers ready to be quilted.

Today Joy worked on one of these quilt-as-you-go hexagon blocks:

I forgot to ask how many there will be or what they will become. We'll have to find out next time.

Well, that's it for a very full meeting, with lots of catching up to do. Our next meeting will be in two weeks, on 25th February. Hope you can join us then!