Quilters' Circle - 31st March, 2014

Today was our bonus "fifth Monday" meeting for March. Even though it is only a week since our last meeting, there were a few projects for Show & Tell.

Last November we saw Glennys cutting fabrics for this quilt, and now the top is assembled:

Each of Glennys' grandchildren chose the fabrics for their own quilt. This one looks much nicer in real life than the photo appears. Somehow the aqua colours have been washed out in the photo.

Today Glennys continued blanket-stitching the hems of this fleece rug:

Last week's photo didn't show any of the cute dinosaurs, so this one makes amends.

Debbie brought along a couple of well-aged unfinished quilts to show us. The oldest one is 28 years old. It is beautifully made, and basted ready to be quilted, but too large for Debbie to physically manage the quilting:

Debbie's second sample quilt is 20 years old, and even bigger. This one is queen-sized:

They are both beautifully made, so it is a shame they can't be quilted as they are.

Last time we saw Marie's year quilt was nearly 4 months ago, when she was assembling week 42. Since then she has completed all 52 weeks, and assembled the whole year:

Fantastic!

Marie made this set of coasters as a house-warming present for a friend. We photographed them last time, and now it is safe to publish the photo as they have been given to their new owner.

If you look at the fabrics Marie used, you can get some idea of her friend's interests!

Marie made this colourful quilt top since our last meeting:

You will have to rest your head on your left shoulder to see it the way it was intended. Blogger has decided again that we need to do some neck stretches.

Today Marie finished the binding on the little gril's quilt we saw last time:

Vireya is preparing papers for her next EPP (English paper piecing) project:

Yes, those hexagons do look crooked, but they are meant to be that way. It is part of the 3-D effect of Geta Grama's "Flower Ball" pattern. Someone asked how many pieces there are in the whole quilt, and the answer is 199.

Our next meeting will be in a fortnight, on 14th April. The Australasian Quilt Convention is on the weekend before, so we might have some goodies or inspiration from the show to share next time.

Quilters' Circle - 24th March, 2014

It is a month since our last meeting, so it was nice to see what everyone has been up to in the interim.

Before we look at everyone's work, think about what you might want to keep in this pretty box Debbie made:

It is shaped rather like a pirate chest, and closes securely with a loop over the butterfly button. What would you keep in it? Read on to find out its actual contents.

During the break Marie made some pillows to match the dolly quilt we saw in February:

They will allow the little girl's doll and teddy to get a good night's sleep!

Marie has also made this top, featuring lots of animal prints:

The adults had enough fun looking at all the different fabrics - the child who finally receives the quilt is sure to get a lot of enjoyment from it as well as warmth.

And as if that weren't enough, Marie has also assembled and quilted this quilt, and today she stitched down the binding:

Very cute! And Marie found the perfect fabrics for her borders and backing on sale for just $2 per metre. What a find!

Glennys has added the borders to a quilt we saw in progress last year:

Lots of butterflies on these pretty fabrics which were chosen by Glennys' granddaughter.

Today Glennys was blanket-stitching the edges of a fleece blanket featuring very cute dinosaurs:

Debbie brought along "Doug the Bug", her pincushion made from a pattern by Hatched and Patched.

He's made of very touchable felted wool, but you have to watch out for those pins it you try to cuddle him.

And here's the answer to what is in Debbie's treasure-chest:

Her husband found that it was just the right size to hold a roll of toilet paper for his trips away! Bet you didn't think of that.

Vireya showed us the first two borders on her mystery quilt, and the fabric she has for the outer border:

Today she spent time pressing some of the seams:

The individual blocks are all pressed, but the seams joining the strips of blocks together (like that running down from the top left corner) haven't been. Before the quilt can be basted they all need to be as flat as possible. There's a long way to go.

This month has five Mondays, so it will only be one week until we meet again. See you then!

Neighbourhood House Quilt

This blog began back in 2009 with a post about the Coburg Saints, part of a community art project in 1992, which still hang in the house. In the background of the first photo of that post, there is a glimpse of another community art project, the Sussex Neighbourhood House Quilt. It is about time that quilt had its own blog post. Here's a better view of it:

The quilt has 28 blocks representing different groups associated with the house (made by members of the groups), blocks representing the values of the house (celebration, access for all, social interaction, and volunteering), and a large block in the centre with the Heart House logo:

The quilt was made in 2007, and finished in time for Neighbourhood House Week that year. The Moreland Leader published an article about it in their edition of 7th May, 2007:

Here are some closer views of a few of the blocks.
The Scrabble Group's block is a winner:

The Arabic Group's block features the word "peace" in Arabic:

The Yoga Group's block captures the essence of yoga:

And lastly, the Quilters' Circle block features lovely appliquéd quilters: