Show and Tell from Helen

As Helen cannot join us today for our Zoom gathering she has sent a photo of the quilt she has recently finished using lots of scraps.

Unfortunately the photo Helen sent was not recognised by my blog so I have had to photograph the photo on my computer. I've left all the extraneous bits to laugh at. I suppose I could have taken a screen shot.

I found another quilt on the web that is also an idea for using lots of scraps. Again the image is refusing to come in so I took a screen shot this time but no luck so another photo of my computer screen using my phone.

UFOs and PhDs in Lockdown

There has not been much activity as a group lately but I think I'd like to change that and have a Zoom get together soon. More details via email.

I've now been in self-isolation for over 5 weeks because I am an old lady! My "children" are making sure I have access to everything I need and last night we even had a Zoom family dinner. This time has given me lots of opportunities for huge garden make overs especially in the chook yard but has also provided the opportunity for patchwork experiments and PhDs.

I am currently using lots of my 1.5" leaders and enders that have already been sewn into 4-patches. I am putting blocks up on the design wall as I go and am quite pleased with the results so far.

I have just pinned the maroon strip on to see what sashing looks like on it. I'll choose a final colour when I decide who it is for. However, I do rather like the maroon. I have tried to avoid bright yellow in the leader and ender blocks and am using my scrap strips for the log cabin blocks in blacks and creams.

I have also been enjoying handsewing whilst listening to episodes of Friendship Album 1933, one of the books on the Quilt Fiction website.

Together with my Zoom pilates, Viral choir experiments and Skype and Zoom meals and morning teas I'd like to add a bit of communal sewing with you all so "see" you soon.

Some show and tell from Christine

Christine emailed me today showing some projects that have been keeping her busy.

A log cabin quilt top made from scrappy leftovers, a journal cover for her grand daughter's birthday, and a rather long term UFO - a  piece of needle turn applique from a work shop with Margaret Sampson George done last year.

Thanks Christine. I love them all. 

Don't forget to send me your projects for our virtual show and tell.

Face Mask projects

Today I found there is a way to help the supply of face masks that are in short supply.

Update: Today an article relevant to Australian conditions came in The Conversation Newsletter

Bonnie Hunter on Quiltville.com is continuously full of good ideas and has linked to patterns for either rectangular face masks or shaped face masks.

While I know that it is also touch that spreads disease, in the end it is all about droplet infection. So make them for yourself and friends.

Pattern 1: a rectangular face mask

Pattern 2: a shaped face mask

While these are not surgical masks they will certainly help keep you aware that there is a virus out there and we are trying to stem its spread.

If anyone knows an Australian need for these we could even make excess and sent them through.

Using your scraps

I saw this image online today and think it would be a good way to use all those leaders and enders and left over strips. I am going to try out a few blocks and see how it goes.

It is the cover image of the book. I wonder if the colours in the image have faded or if they are actually just red, white and blue. I'm going to try first in multi colours and see how it goes.

Does anyone have this book?

Our first virtual Show and Tell

From Liz (NZ)

As you can well imagine many plans are having to be changed. In NZ we are slow starters on the Covid19 virus - still not in double figures for confirmed cases and no deaths but undoubtedly there will eventually be transference. Hopefully this will not be as drastic and exponential a curve as we have seen overseas. 

In the meantime a 2 week isolation in Australia and then 2 week isolation on return makes my trip untenable and I dont think the situation willget better before May ( I am sure it wont)

So I am still a virtual Rainbow Connection member but even virtual connections are good. Maybe we can Skype and do a quick Show and tell on the 16 May?

In the meantime my proudest show and tell at the moment is Geraldine the giraffe ( done using Pam holland's pattern) here is a picture of mine. Our sewing group of 10 have all done one and when we get them all gathered together theya re going to look really interesting - all different.

My best wishes to you and everyone.

Stay safe my friends. 

Although I am not a very high risk by virtue of mainly good health, I am in the age group and my son has informed me that by about Easter when things are likely to kick in here, he wants me out of Auckland and down with them in Palmerston North where isolation and risk is likely lowered. I can go down in my campervan and be pretty self sufficient and take sewing machine and all my hobbies!! We shall see....

From Betty ...

I have also been filling my time with a few little projects...

Just so I don't go stir crazy with all sorts of things being cancelled I have found a few UFO things to do in my quilting studio.

I think I've been waiting since about 2007 to finish off a few more soap savers, having been shown them by Marion on one of her visits. They are really easy to do.

I have about 4 more ready to sew.

Then there were my tiny squares from Suzy in UK that I sewed together some months ago and used the technique as a show and tell. I now have 2 new pot mits for my kitchen at last and I have 2 more to sew then lots more with larger 1" squares from my leaders and enders. I'll try to get better at the binding before I do my last one.

What are you filling your time with during these long days? Send me some pics and a little story and I'll add them to our blog.

Pop-up Quilting Day

Just 4 of us gathered on Saturday for our pop-up quilting day but we did progress a little with our quilts on the go.

Of course there was the lovely lunch under our bookcase quilt.

We pillowcased Stephanie's Bright Stripes and then I started quilting it but we really need to pin or baste the layers together before proceeding. Elaine got the horrible job of unpicking the bit of quilting I had done.

Then we decided to start really thinking about the Seminole pieces and how to put them together to make them work as two single bed quilts. Some strips needed extensions added and even some embellishments to fill empty places.

Rather than losing the zig-zags on some strips we had a go at appliqueing them to the dividing strip.

In all lots of thinking, discussing options and laughing of course, and not very many expletives were heard.

Our Bookcase quilt

Our bookcase quilt is now complete and hanging.

Thank you all and thank you Karen W.

A New Year Begins

Last Friday we met for the first time this year.

Elaine brought along the finished Posy Quilt and we removed the last of the tacking before drawing the winner. Congratulations to Jenny who loves the quilt. Perhaps she'll come down to visit us to collect it or maybe we can all head to hers to deliver it later in the year.

The pieced backing worked well but unfortunately the photo is a bit washed out.

For our show and tell Christine sent along photos of her entry into a quilt show in her town. A quilt with a great story.

Karen brought along the medallion card we received from the Country Women's Association thanking us for our quilt donations.

Linda and her girls visited for lunch and added to the activity of the day.

During the day much work was done to progress some of our other quilts...

• Stephanie's bright quilt top is now finished and Stephanie has pieced an equally bright backing for it. Our decision is to bag this quilt so it is already to sort the batting next time we meet.

• I completed the basic quilting on the Bookcase quilt which means we were able to draw a winner for that one. Karen W won the quilt but unfortunately has no wall to hang it so has offered it to me. I will hang it in my dining room where we can all enjoy it. Thank you Karen. I hope to have removed all the tacking and have it hanging by our next meeting.

• We filled the empty side of the design wall with Carol's Cabin blocks and had a bit of discussion and experimentation about sashing options.

We drew our next Mystery Metre fabric and I've started sending it out but will email instructions when they are written. This time it is a floral from Jenny. Have fun with this block.

In all a very busy day together with lots of coming and going.

On Saturday Elaine and I went to an exhibition of Lyn Hewitt's quilts and we now have some ideas for blocks that are a bit more of a challenge so look forward to drawing our next fabric and incorporating one of the ideas.

Since Last Time...

Our quilts progress in fits and starts. I had a friend Kerrie come down from Springwood to do a bit of sewing a few weeks ago. We finished her job quite quickly so I rang Elaine and asked if she was up for a spot of tacking with Kerrie and I on the bookcase quilt.

By the time Elaine arrived, Kerrie and I had almost finished the body tacking so we all started to tackle the "border". Quite a physical and mathematical headache but I think we are almost there.

Of course the Posy Quilt is still under my machine. I'll get there eventually.

Once we had had enough of the bookcase quilt we decided to see what the seminole strips looked like so added them to the design wall to ponder over the break. Much discussion and thoughts of how to put it together.

Then just last week we had our Christmas lunch day. Karen G. and daughter Rosalind arrived for a spot of sewing quite early so we finished tacking the "border" of the bookcase quilt and I started sewing the hanging sleeve.

Karen W. and Elaine arrived before it was time to leave for Carss Park.

Sorry there are no pics of us enjoying our lunch. There was Karen W., Karen and Rosalind G, Elaine, Ros, Linda with Olivia and Jessica, and then Kathryn who had walked all the way down from Allawah station, just missing us as we left home.

Back again to mine for a tad more sewing and to examine the Carol's Log Cabin blocks. We've made some decisions and done a bit of trimming.

News that Karen W. has delivered two of our quilts to the Country Women's Association.

That's it for 2019 so until we meet again next year enjoy your break and have a Merry Christmas. If you'd like to come for a pop-up sewing day just let me know via email or phone and we can plan.