Carrum Downs Scquilters

Photo diary of the monthly meetings of Carrum Downs Scquilters (at the Carrum Downs Library/Community Centre) on the first Wednesday of each month. We are all members of the Australasian Quilting group Southern Cross Quilters. The Library/Community Centre is located on Lyrebird Crescent - just near the corner of Hall Road - Melway page 100 ref: H3 (see L for library at location. If you need more information e-mail me helen.evans@nanderil.com.au or phone 0417263958.

Monday, December 17, 2012

Wednesday 5th December 2012

Hello again everyone!!! We had a great Christmas party as usual and enjoyed our Kris Kringle swap very much. I had to leave early, so alas did not take any KK pressie photos – but trust me,  beautiful gifts were exchanged, and ogled over.

 

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The first two pictures are of our pressie table – looking quite splendid. Then this was this cute snow folk pattern was brought in by Maggy – all ready to work on – except for the fact that she had forgotten part of her sewing kit – it was a hardship, but she managed to nibble away on the great food, chat all day and enjoy Sandra and Ramona’s secret recipe for punch.

 

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Here we have Jeanette with some ab fab show and tell – her first was a striking challenge quilt from the Waverley Scrapaholics group – the second a Leisa Siegal mystery “Quilt in a box” using fabric from her stash. I may have those two the wrong way around, if so please forgive me Jeanette. At least I know what her third quilt is – it is Esther Aliu’s “12 days of Christmas” mystery quilt from 2011, to which Jeanette hs added some beautiful, unique touches of her own. A true champion!!!

 

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Here. we have Frances with her wonderful quilt which she made from the Ricky Timms’ book  “Special Convergence” – she has named it “Tropical Harmony” – inspired by the lovely fabrics she used. The rest of the pics here are of some of the various projects that we were working on – all looking good.

 

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More work in progress, including one very cute and mobile one xx

 

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Another WIP and at long last we got to see Sandra’s impressive boots from Maceys in Houston – worth another trip???

 

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Here is Jo with this gorgeous table runner – beautiful and then a bag made by Jo (or someone in her friendship group) made out of a tea towel – of all things. he bag is shown inside and out. Whoever did make it was has a wonderful taste in tea towels – now wouldn’t that be a great challenge?

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Here are our lucky door prize winners – Sally and Maggy. We all had a fun day, appreciating a cool change in the weather thank goodness, and look forward to 2013.

Our first day is Wednesday 6th of February 2013 and please retreat visitors – don’t forget out bonus pre-pre retreat meeting on Wednesday 17th July 2013 – all welcome, so take this into acount when booking your flights etc.

So happy holidays and new year to all,

from

Helen

your roving reporter

Monday, November 19, 2012

Wednesday 7th November 2012

 

What a fabulous time we had  at our monthly Carrum Downs meeting – but if you just hold your horses for a minute I need to advise everyone of two special things.

Firstly, we have decided to have a special all singing, all dancing bonus pre- pre- retreat get together next year on the Wednesday before the Scquilters 2013 central Victoria “Christmas in July” retreat in the amazing city of Bendigo. This will take place on Wednesday 17th July 2013 – so please put it on your diaries – transport from the station &/or other locations can be arranged, and visitors can stay with any of us who have spare bedrooms. Details will be finalised later, but I’m sure there will be fun door prizes and other exciting goings on. And just in case you were worried about missing out – our usual July and August meetings on the first Wednesday of the month will still take place.

 

Secondly – but just as importantly – Christmas in December!!! Yes, our next get together will be our last for 2012. Everyone is asked to bring a Kris Kringle pressie to swap, as well as a SMALL plate of food to share. Antlers and Santa hats are optional.

 

Now, back to Wednesday the 7th – it really was a fun day – especially for Ramona, who, much to her surprise, was elected our El Presidente for 2013. Fun times ahead!!! And enormous thanks to Wyn who has looked after us so brilliantly for the past three years and to Marilyn for her great work as treasurer – a job now to be undertaken by Bronwyn – thanks so much to everyone on our committee.

Unusually, I (Helen) started show and tell with the following (I am including some cushions I made for my niece, which couldn’t be there on the day as they had already been sent to the U.K.)

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So, here are the U.K. cushions, my first attempt at a 1600 quilt, using Moda’s Glace range and my 2012 year quilt – so far.

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Here we have Ginny (NO nude run at the retreat Please!!) doing embroidery, Fran’s paper piecing and Jennifer working away on finishing the vintage hexagon quilt – progress has been made..

 

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Bronwyn brought this beautiful quilt that she made from leftovers of a quilt she made for her Grandparents 14 years ago. Absolutely stunning, like all of her work.

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Here are some beautiful examples of Jeanette’s paper piecing – can’t wait to see it finished.

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Sally hand quilting her dolphin quilt – an antidote for years of Dear Jane. And Marilyn did a “Stupendous Stitching” class at Crastsy (on-line), combining hand and machine embroidery – so beautiful, and clever.

 

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Again from Marilyn – a fabulous use of the indigenous fabrics she won at the Adelaide 1999 retreat – very striking.

 

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Here Bar shows her beautiful Bedford Foundation quilt – such a fabulous project it was, and a really pretty Christmas quilt BOM which was free from Bunny Hill designs – last year?? Lovely work.

 

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Exciting crowd scenes!!! Diane and Bronwyn closest to the camera, then Deidre and Bronwyn with Jennifer in the background, then Marilyn, Sally Di R. and Bar, and Ginny, all actually stitching (I did tell them to look busy!).

 

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Some great work, then the always lovely Laurel with hard working Marry, and Bar, Di R. and Sally.

 

So, there we have it for November 2012 – we look forward to seeing everyone on Wednesday December 5th 2012, for our fabulous Christmas festivities.

Your roving reporter,

Helen Evans

Devon Meadows, Vic

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Wednesday 3rd October 2012

It was great to be back after missing three whole meetings. Having been Scquilter deprived, there was so much to catch up an, and no, I didn’t even open my sewing bag. I want to thank Ramona and Fran very much for doing a brilliant job while I was either swanning around Magnetic Island, Hobart or just plain ill. Thank you my friends!!!

We had a great visit from the lovely Laurene Horsnall,  who brought along some of her wonderful goodies from her shop – The Quilters’ Patch 9/3 Tuck street, Moorabbin, Vic.  www.thequilterspatch.com.au

Laurene showed us how to use a different method for our binding – to include piping, but more on that later…..

As always, show and tell was lots of fun, and as always I was too busy talking to take extra photos of everyone, but here, at least, is our show and tell.

 

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From our ageless Wendy – a blanket she has been working on and these beautiful crocheted “African flowers”

 

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And here we have from Fran, her latest hexagons toward a QS quilt. Then from me (Helen E), my entry in the Townsville Retreat challenge apron contest. The requirements were “from the rain forest to the reef” and I was lucky enough to win a beautiful FQ pack for my humble efforts. Which I hope to soon be as prolific with as Ginny – see further down.

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Also from Townsville, my apron for the “Central Victorian Christmas in July Retreat” announcement on the Sunday of the retreat  - to be held in Bendigo from the 19th to the 21st of July 2013 – Ho ho hope you can be there!!! The other item is a scarf  I made in a class with Tina Whitely from the Peninsula Arts society – she is a great tutor and I highly recommend her.

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These first two pics are of Ginny’s random disappearing 9 patch quilt  - made with the layer cake she won in her raffle basket at the Townsville retreat.  It is good to see the on-going joy of our retreats!  She also brought her Bedford Mystery quilt top, complete with leftovers on the back. Excellent work.

 

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Here is Dianne M with “Chebbies favourite bag” taught by Sue Foster at Lang Lang – love the fabric. Dianne also brought along her 1600 quilt – made with a jelly roll “Island Batiks” bought at the Townsville retreat – quilted by Sue Foster.

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Jennifer, still working on completing the unfinished quilt for her workmate – in beautiful vintage fabrics . And Bronwyn brought along her beautiful “At Ocean’s Edge” quilt – 7 or 8 years in the making and hand pieced it has been a huge effort, but so worth it. The block is a traditional one “Smoothing Iron”. There was a well deserved round of applause for Bronwyn.

 

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Yet another round of applause for Sally’s Dear Jane – again hand pieced and 9 years in the making – absolutely superb. The second quilt she brought along is another oldie – made with Margaret Rolfe blocks, beautifully made as always and representative appropriate to her bay views.  Dianne M. proudly showed off her fingerless gloves – just in time for the warmer weather.

 

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Julie brought along this BUG bag she had made and then pulled out her wonderful quilt, using Leesa Chandler’s Under the Southern Sun range. She has also bee busy making this special quilt for her 6 year old grandson – which young boy wouldn’t like this fabulous super hero quilt? Great work.

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A couple more pics of Julie’s superhero quilt – the back is glow in the dark!!!  And lovely Kate –had made this superb cushion in a class with Michelle Hill at the Ballarat quilt-in – the pattern represents the tiles in the Ballarat town hall and was machine appliques.

 

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These are the photos of Laurene’s samples from her binding/piping lecture. I am going to shorten the instructions, but if they do not made sense, PLEASE be patient, as I will be putting Laurene’s instruction sheet up at a later date. She has kindly given us permission.

Basically, you cut two binding strips, the “piping “ one will be 1-3/4” wide – this is the maroon fabric in these photographs – the other one (the starry fabric) will be 1-3/8” wide. Join the strips as you usually would, including pressing the seams and trimming, but do each strip individually. You THEN, join the two strips – right sides together – using a 1/4” seam. Press the seam TOWARDS the piping. Then, fold in half with wrong sides together and press – see how it will look in the above photos – with the piping effect. Use a walking foot to stitch on the binding – stitch raw edges as usual, BUT stitch on the back of the quilt first, doing the corners in the usual way. You will see the pen holding the fabric forward - in the last photo  - the other side has already been sewn along the top of the quilt by machine in the same photo – so if you like the piping effect and don’t appreciate hand sewing the binding to the back of the quilt, this may be just what you have been looking for.

I also want to mention that for our “Movember” meeting we will be stitching bags for chemo pumps for men. If you plan to join us in stitching, please bring your sewing machine, extension cords and power board. To make the bags you will need to FQs, one for the bag (in a manly, non-directional fabric)and one for the lining. If you aren’t going to be sewing – could you please bring us the two FQs for those of us who will be sewing them to stitch. We will also need an iron or two as well as a couple of mini ironing boards. I will bring the batting which has already been purchased by our group. I hope to post the pattern to this blog before the meeting, but don’t worry if I haven’t, as Jo and I will be able to demonstrate how they are made. These bags are quick and easy to make.

Well – I think that is about it for now – see you all with your fabrics and/or machines in Movember on Wednesday the 7th.

Glad to be back – but a little out of practise,

your roving reporter,

Helen Evans

helen.evans@nanderil.com.au

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