Wednesday 6th October 2010

It was unofficial “Australia Day” at Carrum Downs, last week, when Leesa Chandler brought along her new range of beautiful and very different Aussie fabrics. As we are part of south-east Asia and Leesa felt that her fabric collection should reflect this. What she has achieved is remarkable and the following pictures say it all – and those of us who send gift to our Quilting friends overseas, now have the perfect fabrics to choose from. Her patterns for quilts and bags show off the fabrics really well.

Show and tell was fun, as usual:

 

This is the finished of Fran’s challenge from last month – she has added French doors as well as a lot more embroidery and beading – very effective

 

This is another of Fran’s UFO’s- from DUQs – in her favourite purples.

Ginny brought in this wonderful quilt top which she has made for a wedding present. There was much discussion on how it would be quilted which resulted in more confusion for Ginny. Good luck!

Kate, as usual has worked out a unique way of using up the snowball blocks she won at Ballarat – striking!

Robyn made this wonderful quilt for her son’s 18th birthday – a lovely pattern that looks very masculine. I am sure he will treasure it always.

Laurel, just back from the wilds of Canada and Alaska, whipped up this cuddle quilt for her baby grandson.  It certainly looks as if it will be much cuddled!

Excuse my writing – but my notes seem to tell me that Jo has made this very clever and pretty Christmas “celibacy” apron – but I think I meant it was for a Christmas swap! I do love the use of the preserving bottles!

Bar brought along this exquisite bag – her new summer bag!

Sally made this fabulous mariner’s compass quilt in bright Kaffe Fasset and Moda fabrics. We knew she must have been working on something as well as her Dear Jane.

 

Marilyn has already made up her Australian florals kit from Leesa Chandler – so beautiful – I got my kit in the mail today!!!

 

Here she is again – cleverly using the blocks she won at our 2008 and 2009 Christmas parties for the front and back of this lovely quilt.

Here is Wyn’s version of Leesa‘s kit. Wyn has added a clever border to her kit – it looks beautiful.

Bar is holding up this lovely jumper that took only four years to knit – but is it Wyn’s or Bar’s? Again my notes fail me!!! Either way they can share it over next winter!

Bar’s latest scrap busting project – a very effective one too. The QAYG hexagons look beautiful in any fabric.

I have added this beautiful extra quilt – shown after I left – This is Laurel’s Patchwork Pumpkin mystery quilt  - isn’t it magnificent. I hope you remember me at Christmas time Laurel.

It really was a great day – as usual and we look forward to our next meeting on Wednesday 3rd of November – the day after Cup Day. Ramona will be posting the photos to our blog and, on my return from places foreign, I will make up a tale to go with them – suggestions welcome.

Until next time

your roving (extra roving this month) reporter

Helen Evans

ably assisted in notebook licking by Milo

and laptop sitting by Zeppelin the devil cat!

Wednesday 1st September 2010

It was a great get-together (when is it not?) at Carrum Downs on Wednesday 1st September. A smaller than usual, but select group of us braved the weather to sit, sew, chat, trade,eat,read and generally have fun. And greetings to Pam and Laurel, enjoying the delights of Canada and Alaska – we look forward to hearing all the details and seeing what fabrics they managed to locate on their travels when we next meet.

A reminder that our next meeting will be graced by Lessa Chandler, who will give us a talk and bring along some lovely fabrics for us to buy.  So keep Wednesday 6th of October free.

 

Here we have Cynthia (ably assisted by Fran) showing us how her “Handy Hexagons” from Quilters' Companion. The fabrics are wonderful.

 

Here is Fran’s “painted background” challenge. She has used a very interesting fabric and has added painted touches to it – she will be adding more of her famous artistic “touches” to it  before adding…well I won’t tell all – hopefully we will be the finished article next month!

 

Bar is finishing off this beautifully made quilt made by Sandra Stevens (who has sadly had to give up quilting due to illness). Both Sandra and Bar have done a wonderful job.

 

This is Sally’s latest completed Dear Jane block – one row and 11 blocks to go!

 

Di R has made a record number of these lovely needle/notion cases for various swaps, angels etc. This one is for herself – good on you Di!

 

Marilyn is working on finishing her “Nan’s Rules” stitchery.

 

And also a glorious quilt completed from her class with Gloria Loughnan in Ballarat last year.

Maggy – this is her spectacular answer to an “elements quilt” challenge.

 

Jo has knitted this intriguing scarf on point for her sister – tassels will be added to complete the pretty look.

 

 

Wendy is working on a William Morris cross stitched pin cushion. As you can see, the result will be beautiful. I do hope Wendy is planning to work her way through the book!!

 

Wyn, proudly showing us her completed sleeves on a jumper? cardigan? she is working on – these clever knitters!!

Until next month – which , the way the year is going, will be here in a couple of weeks,

best wishes from,

your roving reporter

Helen Evans

Wednesday 4th August 2010

I am a little out of order (blog-wise) as we had a great get-together the previous Wednesday with a brilliant talk and quilt show from Jenny Bowker.  It so happened that a certain blogger,  who shall remain nameless i.e.  me, was so enthralled that she forgot all about taking photos, notes etc. Luckily the lovely Ramona noticed and took all the pics for me, so they will appear in a future blog.

We did have a wonderful time on the 4th August, as we had the travelling suitcase exhibition “The Maharaja’s Garden”.  It travelled in this wonderful suitcase -

 

I took a couple of photos, but will be getting the photos of the whole exhibition shortly to add to the blog.

But here are just a few close ups of the wonderful work.

As you can see, the work is exquisite and we were able to display the whole case full of glorious creations – so keep posted for all the photos.

We were privileged to have Jan – now residing in Langwarrin, as well as Prue, who made the short journey from WA with us to make the day even more enjoyable.

So here we have our splendiferous show and tell:

 

Ramona and Sandra, proudly show their Bedford Mystery quilt tops – Ramona was on photo duty, so (is it Marilyn?) we used a substitute Ramona to hold up her quilt – very striking aren’t they?

Here was have another great quilt from Sandra – originally a Bunny Hill design, which Sandra changed a little in her own inimitable fashion.

 

A really pretty pin cushion from Di R.  A beautiful design, as well as gorgeous fabrics.

Wyn made these clever waffle quilts for her new born identical twin boys – a lovely, practical idea for baby quilts .

And here, once more from Wyn is a traffic quilt for great-grandson number five!  An Oz quilts pattern. Any little boy (or girl) would be thrilled with this bright, beautiful quilt.

Here is Marilyn, being a crazy lady – as usual – love the blue beaded bug/spider!

This particular quilt brought a very emotional response from us all. Three years ago, Maggy’s husband died suddenly. The Carrum Downs girls made hearts in cat fabric for our beloved Maggy and she finally felt it was time to put them together in this beautiful memorial to her her husband, Cliff.

Here we have Prue with her Scquilters flower swap blocks made into this beautiful quilt – while displaying it, Di M., sitting nearby recognised her floral contribution to the quilt and was very excited to see it  - after a cuppa and some drugs, she did calm down!

 

Here again is Prue ( having settled Di down) shows us her beautiful arrangement of the hearts she received on her Father’s death. A wonderful tribute to him of which Prue should be very proud.

Not one to waste her trip, Prue also showed us her magnificent “Family Tree” quilt – cleverly including two DH’s in one part of the family. (As my paternal grandfather had three DW’s, I don’t think it is something I would attempt – and that is not the half of it!).

Here we have Kate’s oriental fan quilt – magnificently quilted by Wendy Watkins. A brilliant joint effort.

We had to persuade Jenni S to show us her almost completed Dear Hannah top – so detailed and so beautifully done – congrats Jenni!

Here is Fran with a 9-patch swap quilt that was not in her colours (i.e. purple) but we all thought the colours went beautifully together. This originated form a 2 and a half inch red fabric swap in Launceston.

Some crowd scenes during show and tell.

The extra blogs will be added as soon as possible, in the meanwhile – see you at next week’s meeting on Wednesday 1st September.

Your roving reporter

Helen Evans