Jo's Show and Tell zig zag quilts

 Last time we were on Zoom Jo zoomed in from a class she was giving using a relatively easy zigzag block. Here are some of the results...

This is Jo's version - 9-patch mixed colours with a final border to echo the sashing.

Another version with a pale grey instead of black.

This version has oriented the blocks to create 'bats' flying.

This one uses 16-patch coloured blocks to start with.

Here the 9-patch blocks are colour co-ordinated and arranged in rainbow strips.

This lady forgot to bring the 9-patches so decided to run with another idea.

It is great to see all the variations of a theme and it will be fun to try it in our group one day.

Show and Tell from Jeanette

 This month's show and tell from Jeanette (Dongara WA) is great. 

First there is Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australia with polar animals to commemorate her trips to the polar regions of our earth.

Then there is her Hexie Quilt with hexie scraps and over 1700 hexies!

I remember sitting in your lounge room years ago cutting your scraps for leaders and enders. Now you are using scraps in amazing ways. Hooray!

Rainbow Show and Tell so far

 For the last 6 months we have all been working on our rainbow strips and quilts. Jo has written the process story on her blog.

I thought I would now add images of our quilts so far. We each had to create a quilt from an assortment of strips made by different members...

Betty's quilt is a simple strip quilt bagged with no binding.
It is backed with polar fleece.

Elaine sewed her strips together  then cut the quilt top diagonally.
She has backed it in yellow and rainbow polar fleece
then bound it with rainbow diagonal stripes

Stephanie decided not to use all 6 strips then
added a coloured diamond to the bottom (top)
to lengthen the quilt. 
It is backed with polarfleece.

Karen removed one block from each strip
and inserted them as diamonds as a diagonal feature.

Jo used her strips to create a corner feature. 
She had to make a few more bits of purple and blue.
She used all the trimmed off pieces to create a binding for the quilt.
Find her process on her Butterz blog.

Carol has taken a set of strips home at our last gathering and will create another quilt for our collection. Janice also has a set of strips but will probably donate her quilt to her favourite charity.

I am still waiting for the strips that Deana made before we divvy up the remaining strips.

Rainbow Progression

 Progress with our quilts went a little further last Saturday. We had a small group with Stephanie, Karen, Elaine and a long awaited visit from Carol.

While we on zoom I did my usual walk around showing off our finished Pebbles flimsy and tacked it ready for quilting and also two quilts I am currently working on.

Thank you to the ladies for helping me sandwich my Surrey's Shirts quilt.

Then there was a show and tell by Elaine - a quilt using lots of half square triangles donated by Jenny at Scrub Stitchin'. The quilt looks like a Persian Rug.

Jo joined us on zoom while she was teaching at a quilt group in Mildura. She was able to show us progress on many different zig-zag quilts. See them on ButterZ. They are just amazing! What a stunning way to use up more scraps.

Karen brought along her finished Rainbow quilt to add to our collection.

Soon we'll be able to have a virtual show and tell with everyone's contributions.

Once Deana's rainbow strips arrive from Utah we'll be able to divvy up to make the remaining quilts.

Thanks to all those who joined in either in person or virtual. It was a fun gathering.

Surrey's Shirts continued

 Between doctor appointments and other commitments last week I was able to finish my May Chookshed Challenge quilt top.

I now have to decide on borders, backing and binding. I rather like the idea and such a simple block! Thank you Stephanie.

A day out with Karen M.

 Yesterday I met Karen M., one of the Chookshed Stitchers, at Circular Quay. Although she lives in Sydney we had only met on Zoom before, never in person.

After morning tea at City Extra we walked up over the hill through The Rocks to the Finger Wharves.

 

There are some lovely views with old and new Sydney juxtaposed.

Then lunch at The Gateway then headed for the Royal Botanic Gardens for a quick visit to Surrey's tree. It really seems to be thriving.

Thank Karen for a lovely day and good company. By the time I got home I had done 17600 steps!

May Gathering

 Last Saturday our small band of hard working ladies all cursed me. I had brought home lots of scrap fabric from Baradine donated by the Scrub Stitchers. So I set the task for the day was to cut the fabric pieces into standard sized squares or strips for use in later projects.

We had our usual Show and Tell over Zoom with Jo and Janice and here are a few below. I forgot to photograph Elaine's quilt.

Stephanie's inspiring new blocks

Karen's version of Leaders and Enders

Three finished quilt tops and quilts and more strips to put together

The same block that Stephanie is making but this one is made from Surrey's shirts.

We welcome our possible new members Sue (Victoria), Tina (Campbelltown) and Deana (Utah).

Scrub Stitchin' 2026 - Part 4 - Home again

 We left Baradine and headed off to Coonabarrabran after breakfast then to Coolah where we enjoyed lunch at the Bakery. Because it was Sunday the op shop was not open for Stephanie.

On then to a quick pit stop at Denman. We'd like to spend a night or two there next year so might plan that in. I had the idea to stay the night at Morpeth so we eventually found it but unfortunately there was no accommodation available. However, talk about Morpeth led Stephanie and I into chat about family history and it turns out that we may be related so we both have to investigate our family trees to see where that rabbit hole takes us.

We eventually found a motel on the New England Highway at East Maitland. It was really lucky that Stephanie had filled one of her slice containers with assorted left over slices before we left camp and I had only eaten half my lunch because there was nowhere nearby for dinner. So we enjoyed half a salad sandwich and cake for dinner.

In the morning the adjacent coffee shop was opened so we both had eggs on avo toast for breakfast with our coffee.

Then it was time to wind our way back to the expressway and follow our noses via the M1, M2, M7 and M5 to drop off Stephanie just after 11am. By the time we'd had morning tea and unloaded her things I ended up arriving home at about noon.

Alec was there to greet me as he moved into mine again the day before we left a week before. He even cooked a lovely steak and vegetables for us for dinner. It was so lovely to arrive home to company again and to be able to travel knowing that things were being looked after while I was away.

Stephanie and I had both had a great trip and look forward to repeating it again next year with a few different stops along the way. Perhaps I'll even have my own car? It is due back to me tomorrow.

Scrub Stitchin' 2026 - Part 3 - Party time

 Each year we have a final dinner with a dress-up theme. This year it was our favourite book character.

We had lots of fun with some people going all out with the dressing up and others just getting by.

Stephanie the gumnut baby

Me as grandma Arrietty with Brenda as a find-a-word book vest

Ann-Marie - from Downton Abbey

Peta - Paddington Bear

Di (foreground). Mary - as a Diana Gabaldon character. She even made her own kilt.

Jenny - Ursula from The Little Mermaid 
Harriett - as a witch from Harry Potter?

Jules - Vera

Here we have Harriett, Lea, and Sue (as Noddy) having a laugh

 

Evelyn, Deana, Lori, Phyllis - as Wally (or in Utah known as Waldo)

I went as Arrietty from The Borrowers. Only the two younger ones knew anything about her. If you'd like to find out more search for Ghibli Studio animations or Wikipedia or read The Borrowers.

Lots of laughs and much noise and great food. What fun!

Scrub Stitchin' 2026 - Part 2

 People started to arrive on Wednesday and find their allocated space. Lots of setting up of machines and projects and also chatting to people we'd not seen in person for a long time.

There was always time for a cuppa with one of the many cakes and slices that came with participants and Chooky's Mum.

Brenda is a local and comes each year. She made some yummy coconut ice for all our goodie bags.

There was plenty of time for work but also for chatter over the 5 days.

And chances to solve problems and swap wise words and techniques. Sandy had forgotten her machine extension table so we were able to construct one for her from a tissue box that was the perfect size.

We convinced Evelyn (Utah) to try Vegemite at nibbles time but I don't think she was impressed.

Walks at any time gave us an opportunity to stretch our eyes and look for kangaroos or other wildlife.

 

We had a show and tell session and Stephanie was able to show her mountains.

When we arrived we each had a goodies bag with a mug included. This is my mug with its string attached so it did not get lost with all the others.

Although this is a 'cheater' fabric it is a great idea for a border on a future quilt.

Some of the group were interested in joining the Rainbow Connection Quilters and here we have Sue...

... and Tina.

Mary was one of my neighbours and completed this jelly roll quilt top over the week.

Tina's daughter Harriett was my other neighbour and completed a baby quilt in the time as well as some other piecing.

Jo completed the quilt-along challenge and it looks so much like Surrey's wardrobe of shirts that I think I might be inspired to make one.

While away I did get an email from NRMA to say they had extended my car hire until my return so I was pleased not to be harbouring a 'stolen' hire car any more.