A new quilter in the making

 Artie is a young lady interested in patchwork and quilting. She came to mine with her first bundle of fat quarters last weekend and we played. After some discussion about the sorts of designs she liked and a lot of browsing through books and online she decided on a block.

This was followed by lessons on grid paper and some colour play. We searched my stash for some plains to add to her patterned fabrics.

Then we started... ta da!

Artie's first block! She is coming back this weekend to choose another block for a sampler in her chosen colours.

This was just what I needed as I am in house arrest while my hip heals and my movement strengthens.

Jeanette's quilts

 Jeanette says: I did a card trick quilt for Mum about 10yrs ago.  Different method though. I've also added pic of circular baby quilt I've just finished for a friend in NZ. I used minky on the back. 

Thanks Jeanette. I love the circular one.

A Citrus quilt for the author

 Karen made a small quilt (for table or wall-hanging) for a friend who published a book on Citrus in November. 

The book: Citrus by David Mabberley (a friend and colleague)

This is an amazing book with lots of illustrations from the ancient and modern art world as well as information that ties the history of the world to citrus.

Karen's latest Show and Tell

 Karen made cushions for three friends as Xmas presents. The colours and themes reflect the interests and tastes of the recipients: cockatoos for an animal-lover; banksias for a keen gardener; and pink/red eucalypt flowers and  leaves for another gardener. They are 18 inches square and are made pillow-case style.

Stephanie's latest show and tell

 Here is Stephanie's progress on her Oh My Gosh quilt. The smallest pieces are 1.5" cut squares so the half square triangles are 3.5" squares untrimmed I think.

I'm inspired to make one as well to use up some of my scraps too. I just have to find enough whites and tone on tone whites.

Our first get-together for 2025

 Yesterday a small group (Karen, Elaine, Stephanie and I) worked hard upstairs, and Linda and Jess came for lunch.

We were able to put all the tulips together and really love the final design. If your blocks have not been included we can still use them as orphan blocks when and if they arrive.

This allowed us to clear the design wall and put up our "stained glass" blocks and discuss what next with this quilt top. To avoid making it too formal as a grid we will probably offset the blocks somehow. There are still some of these blocks to come so by the end of February they should be here.

Heather joined us on zoom in the afternoon and lots of laughs were had. Stephanie showed us her take on what she and I should do with our 'black' quilt and I like it.

It means cutting up the blocks we've made into 4 and inserting alternate black patches then cutting the sides and adding them back flipped. It does look amazing, I hope I have enough black.

Some people sourced colours for our next block from my stash. The background fabric is the focus fabric and it should be on its way to you now. If you want it please let me know. 

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone back in March with all blocks returned.

Macquarie Home Stay Appeal

 Hi all, here is a great cause to donate to:

https://chookyblue.blogspot.com/2025/01/macquarie-home-stay-fundraiser.html

Another flimsy finish

 A visit from Stephanie saw the borders on our Daisy quilt top finished. It is now just waiting for a sandwich.

Meanwhile, lots of blocks have been returned for our Tulips, our Little Frames and our 2-4-6 stained glass quilts so we have 3 lots ready to become a flimsy when all the blocks are received.

Our latest finish

 Elaine bound our Heather's Spots quilt and attached the label. It really looks great and all the tiny left-over 1/2 square triangles were used.

If anyone would like to adopt this quilt just let me know or it will go straight to charity.

Meanwhile, I bought three new sets of fabric drawers from Ikea and had 'the man' put them together because life is very busy here. 

They are now all packed and lots of broken plastic containers have been moved on elsewhere. I was most grateful to Elaine and Stephanie for their help with folding and discussing how to organise the new drawers. This was started before our movie night then continued the next day with Elaine.

Elaine's finished quilt

 Stephanie quilted this one for Elaine and it looks stunning. 

The back is also great.