Wednesday 3rd June 2009

Our Scquilty version of "Australia's Biggest Morning Tea" to raise funds for cancer research took place this month. It was a great day - with morning tea - sadly I left it too late (i.e. five minutes!) to take a photo of the lovely table of food, but below is what was left by then!

Pretty cup cakes!



This was first prize in our raffle - won by "Jan the Gran" - congratulations Jan!



Second prize - won by Dianne C. Hope you enjoyed it Di!

Another item for my Cow collection! Dear Kate saw this "quilted" cow plate at a church fete and couldn't resist it. I am very glad that to be able to add it to my cow collection! I have enough cow plates etc to be able to host a Cow afternoon Tea now - everyone is invited! Thank you Kate.

Marilyn's new bag on pre-printed fabric. Very smart.

Kate's impressive Blue Delicious BOM blocks - absolutely bluetiful!

My red delicious blocks - just ironed on at this stage. I had intended to do needle turn (with Lovely Pauline's help) but decided I wanted to finish it in the near furture (i.e. before 2020) , so I will machine/hand sew blanket stitch around the pieces instead.

Fran's double sided I spy quilt for her grandchild - not yet born, but will be soon!! Lovely and bright.

Marilyn is knitting this gorgeous purple poncho to keep out those winter chills.

Bev's beautifully hand pieced stars using the Hana templates and Sandra's fabric choices. Not ssure if it is to be a table runner or a quilt????

Laurel had some fun with charm squares - very impressive. Laurel is our modest achiever - there are not many months when she doesn't bring along a new quilt top.

Pam's multi- coloured and Sally's blue and white Dear Janes - both coming a long very nicely. More on DJs at the end of this report!

Miriam's BOM - in the most beautiful fabrics. The combination of pieced, broiderie perse and appliqued blocks is wonderful - the BOM is for the Morrell Quilt. The quilt was designed by Di Ford formerly from Primarily Patchwork in Canterbury. Miriam is doing the class with Di at Needles and Pins in Warrandyte, but the BOM kits come from Corliss at Threadbear in Castlemaine. Di and Corliss work together to put together all the fabrics. The quilt was inspired by the Sarah Morrell Album Quilt which was made in the 1840's in New Jersey, USA.

Pam's almost finished bushfire quilt (yes another one - you are a legend Pam!) with William Morris fabric in the centre of each block - another QAYG.

Pam's earlier bushfire quilt - started during one of our working bees in the Devon Meadows Hall - You have seen it before, but as it was about to be sent to its new owners - I thought you could see it again.

Another of our QAYG bushfire quilts - this one put together by Tracey from the Cranbourne Regional Uniting Church group - a lovely bright children's quilt.

Another bushfire quilt - blocks made by Nola in my Tuesday night "In the Shed" group and put together by Annie, also from our Tuesday night group.

This is the back of the bushfire quilt - Nola had enough of this fabric to use to back all her blocks - looks great doesn't it?

Pam's "One Fabric" quilt donated to the bushfire victims as well - you have also seen this one before, but it is certainly worth another look.

I must apologise for any discrepancies in this report - I lost my notes (note to self - do not do this again!!), so any resemblance to actual events in Carrum Downs on Wednesday the 3rd of June, is purely accidental - needless to say a great time was had by all. It was particularly nice to see Maggy - recovering once more from surgery, in a wheelchair, with her leg in plaster, thoroughly enjoying being given a leave pass from jail (respite) - she is now back home with her fabulour feline, and very happy about that.

Also, we send our love to Pauline who is not well.

Now for next month - July will be Dear Jane time! So bring along any Dear Jane work you have done - whether it is a whole finished quilt, a partly finished quilt top, or (in my case) a single block!

Until then,

Your roving reporter, signing off,

Helen Evans,

Devon Meadows, Vic

Wednesday 6th May 2009

We did have a great day today at Carrum Downs - as we always do! I don't know about the other lucky Scquilters who attend, but I always look forward to our days of chatter, sewing, coffee or tea, but most of all the wonderful company. We had amost wonderful surprise, as you willl now see:-

Jenny arrived with an unopened parcel she had thought was her mothers' day present from her daughter who is o/s - but what she found was an even better surprise. Quilter Jill Owens, a lovely lady from Montana, whose husband is a fire fighter, had somehiow got hold of Jenny's address and has made this glorious quilt to be donated to a bushfire victim. Jill included a heartfelt letter - to be given with the quilt, which almost brought tears to our eyes. Thank you so much Jill. I cannot tell you what a wonderful feeling your quilt gave us today. Jenny is off to Kinglake on Friday to hand out more quilts, so I am sure yours will be donated without delay.
The label on Jill's quilt, which speaks for itself.


Some people who shall remain nameless (Marilyn) won a prize in the Jane McGrath foundation raffle at the Adelaide Retreat. This magnificent quilt made and donated by Jenny Bowker was the prize. It couldn't have gone to a nicer person. I know Marilyn will treasure it always.


The back 0f the quilt - showing Jennny's detailed quilting. There is also a beautiful poem on the label of the quilt.

Another bushfire quilt made by Marilyn. A disappearing 9 patch in a wonderful range of purples

Cynthia is "this close" to completing her beautiful stitchery heart - with, according to her, three million french knots!

Di R working on her Adelaide candlewicking class block

Wyn's finished Adelaide block - everyone who did this class agreed that it was a really great experience

Kate's "Wine and Roses" table topper challenge entry. Beautiful work.

This lovely quilt was made by Bronwyn for her niece's 21st. It is a tad late, but don't listen to the rumours that her niece is now 42. Bronwyn assures us it is only a few weeks late........

Bar made up this new pattern for a "Moonshine" bag. The fabric is just wonderul, as it the workmanship - of course

And lo and behold! Di R was given a "Moonshine Bag" by her Adelaide Angel - in beautiful purples

And from her Adelaide mortal Di received this great bag too

Another Adelaide triumph! Wendy made this absolutely precise mariners compass in the foundation piecing class. It was another class universally approved of and I can tell I will have to learn a few more tricks as I learnt foundation piecing from an idiot - yup self taught!

I received this ab fab bag from my mortal in Adelaide. See how wonderfully she has machine embroidered....

both sides! Thank you Lynell. I have already put it to good use.

Me with a couple of "Rubbish" bears I have made for either Bushfire victims or the Breast Cancer cushion ladies - I am sort of doing them for both. The pattern is from my good friend Inge

Ginny made quite a number of these Chooks for friends and family. I did wonder when she started fiddling with its bottom - but what a surprise, there was a zipper there and even more of a surprise, the chook was full of lollies

I think I can safely say that it was the sort of day the even those who weren't there will remember well. So, until next month, when we are holding "Australia's biggest morning tea" to raise funds for breast cancer research, look after yourselves and keep out of trouble - espescially you Wyn, you naughty thing!

Your roving reporter

Helen Evans

Wednesday 1st April 2009

It was all happening at Carrum downs on April Fools' Day when we celebrated the 11th birthday of our get togethers and showed off some lovely bushfire quilts, swapped angel/mortal ideas (& clues) for the Adelaide Retreat and generally enjoyed the day!

The birthday cake.

Laurel with a beautiful 4-patch quilt in lovely reproduction fabrics. It is to be given to bushfire victims.

Wyn & Marilyn, with their friendship group from Mornington Peninsula Quilters made this striking disapearing 9patch fof bushfire victims.

Another of Wyn & Marilyn's bushfire quilts - made with this gorgeous donated children's fabric.

Yet another quilt for bushfire victims - a simple quilt using strips across ways - Marilyn is lying on her side in this photo - what was in the punch?

Kate brought back her stack and slash , or re-organise, or something - anyway, the result is great. I wrongly suggested last time that Kate had bought this fabric in England. Silly me, it was from Somerset Fabrics in Waverley! Not from Somerset as such. However, you can't blame me too much as Kate is not known for her staying at home for long!

The photo doesn't do this quilt justice! Ginny decided to follow the patterns from Dijanne Cevaal's book 72 ways not to stipple - page by page, so each square is quilted in a different design - so good, it made me want to buy this book! And I hear there is another one out now as well - perhaps I'll find them 0n the shop hop in Adelaide!

Fran's art group were charged with making a small quilt with the theme "Brave New world". This offering is called "Recycle" and is made using the contents of Fran's sewing room rubbish bin! Any lolly papers?

Sue with the completed top of Noah's Ark made for a member of the group she teaches in Berwick, for a group member expecting a surrogate baby. If I were the surrogate baby, I would treasure this lovely quilt always. Can we have photos please Sue?

Cynthia's second last block of "Pretty in Pink"- and it is!!

Our beginner - Joy with the sweet teddy bear quilt she is making for her Grandson - her 3rd quilt in 2 months! Not really a beginner any more Joy!

Maggy with a beautiful beaded bag from her angel - who are you angel????

Julie with this "boy" quilt for her son- a holden fan. Go Holden!!!

If you are Maggy's Adelaide retreat angel or mortal, you are very lucky - this will be your last gift at the retreat!

Pam with ANOTHER of her glorious QAYG bushfire quilts. Great work Pam.

I might add that there was a lot of work we couldn't show you as it was to be given to mortals at the retreat. All I can say is that there are some very lucky retreat attendees!

With that, I will leave it until next month - am looking forward to seeing lots of Scquilters in Adelaide next week.

I just want to send all our good wishes to one of our regulars Pauline Sisson - who is unwell. We send our love to you Pauline. xx

Bye for now,

your roving reporter and Carrum Downs blogger of renown,

Helen Evans

Devon Meadows, Vic