October 5th 2016 and November 2nd 2016

You may have noticed that I am a little (or in my case, a big) behind. Life seems to have got in the way, not to mention:
a. Our dog ate my notes
b. My notes were abducted by aliens
c. One or more or our three cats tore up my notes
d. All of the above.

Now that we have got that out of the way, some important reminders:
Quilts of Valour  Quilt in Saturday 26th November
All welcome - whether you are in the process of making a Quilt of Valour, or want to help sew on binding, cutting blocks  etc. Tasks can be selected when you arrive with your sewing machine. BYO lunch. Morning and afternoon tea provided.
Harkaway Hall, King Rd. Harkaway. www.quiltsofvalour.com.au

 More info? Wyn:95849512 Helen C. 97073535

Details for our Christmas Party December 7th
  Bring a small plate of food to share for lunch ( savoury preferably)
 For our Kris Kringle present swap we are swapping some nice Christmas Food instead of home made gifts this year (if you have already made a gift - don't worry, bring it anyway). Please wrap your gift.
There will be some exciting/questionable door prizes too, and an extremely interesting quiz - with an extremely interesting prize - both for first and last. And of course - if you made your bauble headband - instructed by the marvelous Melody in November, you must wear it. There will be a spare of two available and instructions for those who missed out.

October Show and tell

This was a kit I (Helen)  received in my sea shanty package from the lovely Lynely on our retreat cruise earlier this year. As you can see  I (well, actually DH Merv) has done a fabulous job to complete the beautiful little hedgehog. He enjoyed doing it so much, that he is back to cross stitching again, after many years break.

These little folk art birds are the result of a class with the lovely Elizabeth Armstrong. I made the felt the first week and the second week I cut out the birds and started to decorate them - not finished yet, but a great experience. The one with the most bling will be a Dame Edna bird.

 Dianne G has started working on this beautiful cross stitch - isn't it gorgeous? You will see how well she has progresses in our November show and tell.

The photos do not do this quilt justice. Wyn has arranged for one of these magnificent Dignity Quilts to be made for each of the Vasey RSL Nursing Homes.  All these quilts have been made by Scquilters and cover all three of our forces - Army, Navy and Air force. They are to be used for very special and emotional occasions in the nursing homes. Well done to all involved.

Marilyn L picked up this beautiful feed sack red work embroidery from Qulits in the Barn. A great buy from a splendid event.

This is magnificent embroidery work from Marilyn W, who did this project at the fabulous Berry quilt/craft weekend.

Wow, Marilyn W mustn't have had time for even a sip of champers at Berry! She also produced this exquisite felted scarf. Redundant in its splendour!

A fabulous charity quit made by Jo - just using her scraps. What a lovely design.

And yet another charity quilt for Ballarat Family Services from the lovely, generous Bev. Bev told us that she finds most of her scrap quilt idea on Pinterest. This one is a particular beauty.

Lyn is working on this beautiful bear Christmas stitchery. Almost finished and impossibly cute.

These great personalised cushions have been made by Sally for some of her many grandchildren. She uses a 16" square of fabric to start with and adds whatever fabric she feels would suit her grandchildren so she can use a 20/24" cushion insert from Spotlight. Even her 19 year old grandchild has requested one - it is a great idea for Christmas presents and, of course Sally makes them so well.

Hexagons? Of course it is Bar! These fabulous pieced hexies are from her new book. I have forgotten the title, but it is something like "Hexagons for the Completely Crazy"!

This ab fab diamond quilt is made by Laurel - everything about it is gorgeous - particularly the large centre diamond. I bet many of you would guess correctly that it is one of Di Ford's lovely patterns.


November Show and Tell

This was the wonderful result for Melody's request for Bags of Dignity for homeless women. I didn't count them, but there were lots there. Than you ladies.

This is a wind up Zombie. You may not know this, but Melody loves all things Zombie. This was found at Rochford Winery in the Yarra Ranges with her name on it, as a thank you for organising us all to bring the above donations.

Simone has been working on these 1" hexies forever. If you look closely, you will see some very clever fussy cutting. Simone then made them up - back and front, into a bag. I think the patter was from Noodle head, but, as Simone says, any suitable bag patter will do. Love the black fabric to off set the multi coloured hexies. Very good job Simone.

As mentioned in the October show and tell above - Sally is continuing with these beautiful, individual cushions for her numerous grandchildren. Close up, this one shows just how striking they are. Quite a fe of us mentioned that we were sure that we were Sally's grandchildren too - not sure she believed us!

Now, don't you just want to get out your chenille cutter again after all this time! Bar did and the result is beautiful. She put the Christmas panel on top and used three layers of calico underneath. What a magnificent result.

Not happy with just chenilling (is that a word? no? never mind), Bar also made these beautiful Christmas place mates - QAYG - using different shades of neutrals. Lovely.

Carol has stitched her way through this magnificent Christmas stitchery. Enlarge it to have a really good look at all the work. Not sure why she did it sideways though.

More lovely work done on Dianne G's cross stitch - looking good.

Melody ha to hold up her 4th border, to show us properly, just how lovely it is looking. Another Di Ford pattern - Rotherford Grange.

Again, you will need to have a closer look at Jennifer W's whole cloth quilting, but trust me, it is absolutely gorgeous.

I am in the midst of making Christmas mug rugs - they have changed a bit since then - I will bring them in next month.

This is a sweet little fabric basket I received at St. John's Quilters Cranbourne quilt -in. Isn't it cute?

Ramona thought so!

I tried it on the other side!

There has been talk of Christmas bauble head band ever since Melody wore her self designed one to last year's Christmas party (oops - that is one of the questions for our Christmas quiz - oh well, you'll all have forgotten by then). This year some of us were determined to join her, so we had a bauble head band lesson. It was much fun. This is the...er...result. Some lovely baubles here. I was having trouble - some of my balls were drooping - this will be rectified in time for our Christmas party - on Wednesday 7th of December. See details - read all the details at the beginning of this blog - TWICE.

See you on the 7th,
Your roving reporter,
Helen Evans

helen.evans@nanderil.com.au

 

Wednesday the 3rd of August 2016

What, you may ask, happened to our July get together? Ask away, for those of us who sailed away on the Pacific Peal for this year's SCQuilters retreat, also have no idea of what shenanigans occured during July. By the way, I am sworn to secrecy about the retreat because we all know "What happens at retreat stays at retreat".
So, to make a short story long, apart from guilty looks and lots of laughter I am unable to report anything at all about our July meeting. I suspect that alcohol, satanic rituals and some very bad behaviour was involved, so will say no more on the subject except, that  wish I had been there to take part.

Now to August, where things had calmed down a just a little, but plenty of fun was still to be had.

Marilyn L. surprised us all. She has been hiding her (red) light under a bushel. You see Marilyn has been hiding the fact that she is a "Red Hat Lady" and is getting her bling (Red Hat Ladies like bling and lots of it) ready for the Re Hat gathering on Norfolk Island. From Marilyn's descriptions of her previous adventures, we suggest that Norfolk Islanders lock their door for the duration. Click to enlarge the pics and you will see just how much bling Marilyn will be blinging to Norfolk Island. Good luck for a great gathering!!!

Those of you who did the foundation Piecing pop up class at the Retreat may recognize what I (Helen) have done with four of the blocks we made. I have become re-addicted  to foundation piecing and have decided that this will be the first block of a "Tip toe through the Tulips" quilt.

At the retreat, the challenge was to make a pin cushion. This is my Zombie pin cushion.

Last but not least,by any means is my beautiful cow bag. We had a sea shanty package swap and by some (very) strange coincidence, I was lucky enough to receive the package Lynley had herded, all the way from Perth. I was very mooved to "win" her package, which was wrapped in this cow bag. Some have mooted that the swap was fixed, buts udders know it was meant to be.

Virginia's self designed king size hexagon quilt, which we show you from time time time, is starting turn into a lovely pattern. Very well done Virginia - this quilt is going to be legendary.

Here is Laurel's gorgeous "Springtime" quilt - for the Beaconsfield Quilt Show. It certainly looks like spring - so beautiful. Details on the show at the end of the show and tell.

The dynamic Deidre has finished her amazingly gorgeous African Flower blanket. The flowers are so beautiful and, there is a U tube video which shows you how to make them. Yay! Note to self - learn to crochet.

 

Kate has used her extensive skills on her embroidery machine to embroider this beautiful ladybird on her pocket. It is so cute and very clever - just like our Kate.

Melody is working on Irene Blanck's confetti quilt in wonderful "confetti" colours, with exquisite fussy cutting. Such beautiful work.

Once again Melody brought a long something very special. At CWA House in Toorak, they had an open day and Melody was able to purchase this fabulous blanket for the princely sum of $20. Of course she couldn't resist bringing it in to show us all. The crocheted flowers are absolutely fantastic. Dear CWA ladies, please charge a bit more for your exquisite craft work - we are happy to pay!!!

Here's a close up of one of the lovely flowers - all different!

Carol was working on this delightful Christmas stitchery - such beautiful work - congratulations!

Fiona is working on a quilt following a class at Treehouse Textiles ( love that shop!). Wonderful selection of fabrics.

 Lyn is working on a quilt from "Hugs and Kisses"  - at least I hope these hexagons are hers!

And also some exquisite work on a Hatched and Patched pattern - so pretty, Lyn.

The lovely Dianne G, continues with her beautiful knitting. We were shocked to hear of your heart problems Dianne, but, I imagine, not half as shocked as you. However, we are so happy to hear, that, after bypass surgery, you are on the road to recovery. Melody and I, in particular sincerely hope that you will be joining us again VERY soon, for our crochet lessons, and, of course, your wonderful company. Love from everyone at Carrum Downs Scquilters.

Bev tried hexagons - she has done enough. This will be a table runner - but an exquisite one, none the less.

Bev, always generous, has made yet another quilt for Ballarat family services. This Rodeo quilt is for a little boy. Well done - as always - Bev.

Simone has made this great cushion for a friend. It is a lovely gift - both front and back. Great fabrics too!

Wyn has knitted this beautiful infinity scarf. It looks fabulous on her doesn't it? Love the pattern - perhaps one day I will graduate from dishcloths????


Some dates to remember:

September 10th - Beaconsfield Quilt Show -Beaconsfield Neighbourhood Centre, 8 O'Neil Rd. Beaconsfield. Proceeds to Beaconsfield CFA..

October 1st (10am - 5pm) and 2nd (10am - 4pm)  Bay Quilters Quilt Show, Beaumaris  Library Complex, Reserve Rd. Beaumaris. Proceeds to Profits to Sandringham and Beaumaris Surf Life Saving Clubs

And, of course we will be meeting again on Wednesday September 7th.  Alas, I will be in Hobart, but I trust a good time will be had by all.

Your roving reporter,
Helen Evans