All Done!

Betty's latest show and tell is a finished quilt, quilted, bound, labelled and photographed in time for the virtual birthday celebrations.

I love the back too.

Karen W's Show and Tell

I saw a picture in a magazine of a bag made of on-point squares and decided to work out how to make one. After some drafting on graph paper and resorting to sticking together paper squares(!) to get the sequence right, I made the smaller (4 " squares) bag. That looks OK but it is only big enough for a paperback book and has no 'gusset' for expansion space. Then I did a bit of browsing and found various patterns online (of course!) so I made the second, larger bag, using 5" squares and adding an extra row of squares. That is still not a lot bigger but definitely able to accommodate more bulk thanks to the gusseted sides. 

During the Zoom meeting I also showed my current hexagon project, and some handy tools. The LED light is great for working in the evening, while the beewax candle makes it a lot easier to thread needles when the thread is dragged across the beewax. The takeway cup holds my reel of thread with the end coming out the spout (arrowed) - no more runaway reels. 

Betty's Show and Tell

Well after a lot of work in the chook yard, a long shower and a well deserved rest I headed upstairs to finish off my first Covid quilt top.

In an earlier post I put up the beginnings but once I knew who the finished quilt was to be for it has all gone together quickly. Upstairs now to sandwich bind and quilt it. It has to be finished for next weekend.

Show and Tell from our Zoom gathering

Today's Zoom gathering was great. Thank you to all those who joined. I think we are now learning about how to iron out glitches on the run.

People had a lot of show and tell so here are a few...

Jeanette (WA) has made some bags.

She and Graham went out to their front gate for Anzac morning with a candle and flag.

Christine (Noosa) is progressing with her clam shell blocks, many of them embellished in some way.

Karen G (Woolongong) has been experimenting with folded stars.

While Rosalind (her daughter) has been making some Eye of God hangings.

We were also treated to Karen W's bags and other partial projects, Elaine's  hand work, Jenny's dressed cats and more. I hope to have pictures of them all soon.

I was having difficulties actually adding pictures to my blogs but have now found a way around the problem so send in your Lockdown project pictures for us all to be inspired by.

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.