Wednesday 4th May 2016 - Cuppa for Cancer day

 It was a great day at Carrum Downs this month. It was our big "Cuppa for Cancer" Day. We had a lucky dip - which proved so popular it ran out within less than an hour, as well as lots of fun for everyone opening their surprises.  There was jam. lemon butter, passionfruit butter and tomato sauce on the trading table, as well as lots of nice sewing items.
We enjoyed a tasty lunch and had much fun with an auction of a pack of FQs.

I had won this with my WW1 nurses outfit (or perhaps it was the colon cleansing and other medical procedures I performed?) at our Canberra retreat last year, and with "The great Wall of Fabric" already in my shed, I felt it only right that it should do some real good! Deidre was the lucky winner. Altogether we raised almost $520 - which is a record for our small group.

This was the lucky dip box - as you can see there were some special hints on some of the packages!!!

Thus was some fabulous knitting From - I think - Marilyn W - isn't the variegated wool fabulous. I think it is a scarf or a shawl - but will find out more net month!

Simone has put this gorgeous colourful group of hexies together - looking fabulous. Don't you just love all scrap creations?

Can you tell my (Helen's) knitting is improving - slowly but steadily - yet another dishcloth nearly finished. One day, in the far distant future, I may move on to something else - socks hopefully???

This was another of Helen's (aka mine). It was a response to an "Autumn" challenge by St. Johns' Quilters, Cranbourne for their recent quilt show. I might just make one for each season, although I should have left more leaves on - the leaves on our local Avenue of Honour oak trees have yet to turn, let along fall!

I know you must be a tad weary of this quilt - but having pecked away at it for years, it is finally finished (subject to a bit more hand quilting). The chooks come from a Maggy Walker BOM "A Country Journal", but the vines, leaves, flowers and passionfruit are all my addition - I call it "A Passion for Chooks".

Extreme apologies for this one - another challenge for the quilt show - an "I go to Rio" apron in Olympic colours. Can you see my maracas?

Isn't this fabulous? Jo has completed this simply splendid block from an Irene Blanck pattern. We are privileged to have Irene as our guest speaker for June.

This beautiful quilt , made by Bev, will go to Ballarat Family Services. It is very cute.

Jeanette has been working on clam shells - following a class from - guess who - Irene Blanck! She has learned a different way of putting them together, and note the beautiful batiks she is using.

This striking bag was made by clever Bar. Such gorgeous fabric too!

This magnificent quilt was donated to Quilts of Valour by my friend Annie. Annie is in my Monday group and makes superb quilts. This lovely one was quilted by Susan Moroney of Cranbourne. A very nice gesture from Annie.

Kate has knitted some of these cute little dolls - and here is her latest lovely creation.

Here we see some beautiful fussy cutting from Deidre following a class she did at Patchwork Passion on Lucy Boston's Patchwork of the Crosses. Lovely work.

Deidre showed us her mirrors she uses for fussy cutting - and we had a bit of a play - very interesting it was too.

I had asked Deidre last month to make me a couple of her fab walking bags. They hold a drink bottle and have a side zipper for keys etc. These photos show the back and front of both bags. Guess which one I am keeping for myself? The other bag, made in Australian fabrics is a perfect gift for an overseas friend. Thank you so much Deidre - you have done a perfect job, and I love my cows!

Sandra is working on some of Gail Pan's fabulous stitcheries. As you can see, she has made great progress.

And here we have some fancy knitting by Dianne G. Very clever Di.

And just in a nick of time this month's blog is published - barely in time for our next get together - next Wednesday 1st of June. Can everyone please get to Carrum Downs by 10am - in time for our talk from the extremely talented and interesting Irene Blanck. And don't forget you show and tell.
Until next month,
Your roving reporter
Helen Evans

Wednesday April 6th 2016

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Before I blog about our fun April get together, I would like to tell you all about our May "Cuppa for Cancer" meeting, to be held on Wednesday 4th of May. We will be going all out to raise lots of funds. To this end the following will be happening:

We ask everyone to bring a small plate of food to share for morning tea/lunch to make the occasion more festive.

We will open the trading table as a fundraiser, so bring along anything you want to sell, from jam to vegies, to fruit, to (of course) sewing supplies. We will have a lucky dip too. If you would like to contribute, please bring along wrapped gifts to about $10 in value. This will be FUN! They will be $3 of 4 for $10! There will also be a raffle with a choice of several different fun prizes. Tickets will be $1 each or 3 for $5.
And please wear something PINK - even if it is just a ribbon or jewellery.

Last year we raised a record amount and it would wonderful to beat this record, so please bring along LOTS of small change for your purchases. All Scquilters and friends welcome.

Now back to April. We had a lovely relaxed day of chatting and sewing - as always.

Ramona asked us all to "look busy". We did our best!

Dianne G was continuing work on her beautiful Bee stitchery quilt - love the colours.

The lovely Deidre - I ordered a couple of her nifty bags for carrying bottled water and a zippered section for keys - and look what she is doing for me! Deidre knows me too well, and I will be thrilled to carry my finished cow bottle bag. Isn't it wonderful?

Melody is continuing to work on her hexie swap. They have come from all over the world and will be decorating a beautiful vintage screen when they are all done.

Fiona has been working on "Sweet tea and green beans" - this is the absolutely beautiful border. Can't wait to see it all put together. It is a beautiful quilt and Fiona has done a magnificent job.

Stone the crows! It is me (Helen) - knitting (or trying to) still.

Some lovely embroidery from Marilyn L. - even if it is upside down!

Simone has made this fab baby quilt for a heavy metal fan friend. It includes recycled jeans and some appropriate signage. Rock'n roll!!!

Wounded Wyn - still as busy and productive as ever. Hope the bandages are off soon.

Marilyn W. has been working on "Stars in the wood" - such a beautiful pattern and her usual exquisite work.

Laurel is working on a Splendid Sampler block - looking good! Has anyone else got the Splendid Sampler bug? Apart from me?

Virginia - hexagons - still! What can I say, but one day in the dim distant future we look forward, very much, to the quilt's unveiling.

 Jeanette his working on this very pretty block - a tutorial from The Splendid Sampler - love the reds

 Bar is busy making some pretty scissors/needle holders as well as he beautiful hexagons from the book that Dianne R is reading

 Sally's new quilt is called F=Garden Wall - and what a great pattern it is. Well done.

Here is a 1600 quilt made by Ramona - lovely fabrics and a beautiful border

And that is it until our big fundraiser on the first Wednesday in May - please remember to bring along a plate to share and any items to sell as well as your spare pennies to spend -  and bring a friend as well, so we can help fight this scourge!

A quick bouquet of love to Melody , who is currently in Epworth Hospital and Maggy in Peninsula Private. Get better soon. We love you both.

 Until next time,
Your roving reporter,
Helen Evans

Until next month

Wednesday 2nd March 2016

Look what came to our get together on the 2nd of March! Yes, the magnificent Gallipoli Centenary triptych quilt, designed by out guest speaker the Rev. Wendy Snook and put together so beautifully in a joint effort between  Cranbourne's quilting groups. It is normally on display at the Cranbourne RSL, but is expected to tour to other RSLs around Australia as well as (hopefully) the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. it was an honour to have the quilt with us, and it was a joy to be able to observe the minutiae of this extraordinary quilt.
Wendy entertained us with the background to the design of this quilt - if you want more information, please e-mail me privately and I will send you a copy of the story of this quilt.

Here are some of Wendy's other quilts - many of which were prize winners.

I am sure you will agree it was a fabulous display of quilts from Wendy, who went to great lengths to explain the background of each quilt - from the brumbies running from the Canberra bush fires to her unique map of Australia (including Tasmania!), and her beautiful portrait of her daughter. Many thanks to Wendy and her group for joining us on the day. And by the way, Wendy was the first female Chaplain to work in the Defence Force.

And now, for the rest of the day....

Guess who was about to turn 50? Yes, our very own, very precious Ramona, who, in the absence of a cake, was more than happy to blow out her candle on this dip - tastefully surrounded by biscuits. Marona - we love you!

Sandra brought along her Pies and Tarts quilt - now I know what I am supposed to do with mine! Looking good!

Also from Sandra, Bonnie Hunter's Celtic Solstice - with a little bit added around the border. A brilliant qult Sandra - love the colour combination too.

Beautiful hexagons from Melody through a world wide hexagon swap. Our well known scavenger has manged to find a screen lying outside someone's house and she will use it for her hexies when they are finished. Long may you scavenge, Melody!

Some beeautiful stitchery work from Dianne G. Very pretty and the Queen Bee looks most regal. It will be great to see it finished.

Apart from Wendy's show, this little critter was the star. Marilyn made this colourful Foxy Loxy from a pattern in Homespun Magazine. Isn't he the cutest feral creature you have ever seen?

Wyn decided to bite the bullet and make a practise version of Jenny Bowker's famous Shimmering triangles pattern. It looked like the real thing to us Wyn. We look forward to the larger version - next month???

Here is Helen's (my) long lamented version of Maggie Walker's Country Journal. I have added my own touches and am furiously trying to get it finished at last. Loving passionfruit as I do, my quilt will be called "A passion for chooks".

Bar has completed this magnificent Farmers' Wife quilt in her usual magnificent fashion - just splendid! I did once question the sexism of calling blocks Farmers Wife blocks - as we know, all Farmers' wives are farmers too, but it was explained to me that the blocks originated from a magazine/periodical in the U.S. in the 20s and 30s called "The Farmers' Wife" - how times change!

And yes, as expected Bar is also working on new hexagons from this book The New Hexagon. Don't you love the fussy cutting?

Bev has made this lovely charity quilt for Ballarat Family Services. A wonderful effort - don't you agree?

Also from Bev - this beautiful, bright quilt for her lucky grand daughter. What a terrific present.

We had the extreme pleasure of the company of Wendy's own Wednesday group, who also brough their projects along. Thanks so much for joining us Rosemary and everyone.

Yvonne was putting a hexie bag together - with gorgeous Australian fabric in QAYG hexagons

This is the pretty green wall section for Tracey's Butterflies and Cat Tails quilt - which is in the book Quilts from Grandmother Garden - would love to see this finished Tracey.

Roslyn has made this striking Dresden Plate - using a different method to what we are used to - a very good idea!

Gaye has been stitching whilst in the waiting room at Peter Mac Hospital - good work Gaye x

Rosemary is working on this self planned hexagon project. It looks lovely - just like a magic carpet

Deidre's sister, as sisters do, sent her this cute birthday present in memory of the real Socks who went to cat heaven recently. Socks#2 will make a sweet doorstop

This is my collection of cottage garden (?)  threads - which came to me, in a round about way, as a result of the Adelaide retreat in 1999. Michelle Watters, do you remember these? I should let you know that I have used and replaced many of the threads.

Kate is wearing her show and tell - a lovely dress made out of fabric from the patchwork shop at Ballan. Well worth a visit for the fabric and the cafe - best vanilla slices ever!!!

And last but not least , my basket - full of passionfruit. Where did it all go???


So that's it for March troops. Our next get together will be on Wednesday 6th of April. Another great day of stitching and friendship. As always, all Scquilters, near and far are welcome.
From Dodgy Productions of Devon Meadows,
Your roving reporter,
Helen Evans









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