Memories from Robyn

 Yesterday Robyn sent me a photo of one of the group quilts we made in 2011.

The focus fabric was brown print roses which was difficult to manage for a remote group. The quilt was put in the Quilt Show and won a highly commended award. Robyn won the quilt and chose to keep it. Here it is on one of her beds.

It really looks quite stunning! Thanks for the memories Robyn.

Kerrie's Quilt Extension

 Kerrie had a quilt that was a wall hanging and she wanted to extend it and use it as a quilt. The hanging was quite old and of course we could not match the fabric. She has been to mine every now and then and we've worked on it together. 

A few weeks ago the quilt was completed and Kerrie is very happy.

One happy warm lady.

Extension tables for sewing machines

 Yesterday Stephanie came to play while my roof gutters were being cleaned. We did a bit more on our Black and Brights quilt but then decided to face the issue of extension tables for sewing machines. 

I'd looked up prices for extension tables but then noticed that I could not even get one for 3 of my machines. I've been using a small cardboard box on one machine and that gave me an idea.

So we spent most of the afternoon considering how to create templates for the bases of the machines (each one is different) then how to cut some very old and damaged herbarium boxes to solve the problem.

Lots of trial and error later and we now have two extension tables.

Last night at 2am I even worked out that if I sit the box back in its lid and cut just the edge flap that goes under the machine the whole thing will be held in place with the weight of the machine. I'll try that tomorrow when I have a bit of time.

Who would have thought?

Saturday Zoom and gathering

 On Saturday we were a very small group for our physical get together but we did achieve a lot.

Our Stained Glass now has a border.

Karen made and extra Card Trick block as we did not have enough returned and I altered two blocks because they were not large enough.

We are unable to alert makers to the issue of some blocks not quite meeting the stipulated criteria because we don't know whose is which. 

We seem to have all lapsed in labelling our blocks except for Jeanette (thank you). When you return your block please write your name on the back along one of the seams then we can help anyone who seems to need help.

The Orange blocks are up but we are short a few blocks. Also one is missing because it needs to be reconstructed in parts. Again we don't know whose it is. We have decided a dark blue sashing might go well with this one.

Why didn't I think of that? The other day I was watching a YouTube video and noticed a lady had a square ended ironing board and her quilt fitted better than a pointy ended one. Then I realised she just had it turned around! It works so well.

I've now turned both of mine around.

Elaine had time to finish the top of the brown quilt she is making. It really looks quite stunning.

Jeanette showed us her latest achievements on Zoom but could not work out how to turn the camera around to show us so she sent photos instead. I have included them below.

I love them all, thanks Jeanette.

Another new purchase from the refund

 Elaine and I went to Spotlight yesterday and, apart from polar fleece, I bought us another new sewing machine. Luckily Elaine noticed that the one I picked up had been opened so I quickly swapped it over. 

This morning I opened the box and got the machine working.  I was packed with a piece of brown paper under the sewing foot and that had obviously absorbed excess oil. I've sewn a tiny bit with it and it sounds fabulous. This one actually purrs. I hope it keeps working well because I am well sick of machines that do not work.

I even checked the foot pedal of the old Bernina this morning too before I give up on it completely - it is completely clean so that is not the issue. I will donate that to Stephanie's other group who may have someone who can fix it for them or can use it for parts. What a pity.

The new purchase returned and money back

 Early in May I bought us a new sewing machine, the same one Stephanie bought a few years back from Aldi. While hers works like a dream, ours had intermittent faults and was driving Kerrie and I mad while we had a day of sewing last Saturday. As it was still within the return time I drove up today and did so.

So that is now back to 3 sewing machines that work. We might have to start using my treadle machine if things get tight. I still have Stephanie's machine set to my blanket stitch needs for my hexies but I guess I can change that.

News from Jeanette in WA

 Upon hearing of our rain on the east coast she writes...

Feel free to send the "wet" bit this way please.  Still no rain here & possibly not for another 3 weeks.

Had a bushfire next door last week.  Dopey neighbours lit up a pile of scrub Tuesday night & thought they'd put it out, but obviously not. It took off Wednesday morning in the screaming easterly, burnt thru 4 properties.  The firies were amazing & saved the 2 homes in the fire's path. We had 3 spot fires in ours from flying embers but got on top of them pretty quickly. Our friends up the road at the olive farm lost a machinery shed & house water tank. The rocky paddocks over road from us look like moonscapes now. 

If I knew how to send it over Jeanette I would do so.

Windows are finished and more show and tell

Elaine delivered the finished small knee rug I am calling Windows today. 

If anyone wants to suggest where this one should go please let me know.

 Elaine and I also worked today to get this far with our Brown Quilt...

And I also sewed together the Blacks and Brights blocks that Stephanie and I are creating.

In all a lot of homework is done ready for the next steps.

Tulips are finished

 Today was homework day for me and I was able to finish our Tulip quilt by adding the label and taking a photo.

All that needs to be done now is a search for stray tacking threads next time we meet.

Looking good!

If anyone has a good home for this knee rug let me know.

A new purchase

 A week ago, after a very frustrating time with faulty machines at our last gathering I happened to be walking through Aldi buying something quite mundane when I saw they had sewing machines for $129 and it seemed to be the same one as Stephanie bought some time ago and is quite a good machine.

So our group now has a new machine.

After gently testing it I discovered that something must have worked loose in transit so I took it apart in the bobbin area. I had to take Stephanie's apart to check just how it was supposed to go back together. I eventually got it running smoothly and made our next block using it.

It is quite noisy and had a slightly different foot pedal feel but once you get used to that it runs well.

Then I had to test Stephanie's machine to make sure I put it together again correctly but as I had set it up for my hexie flower project I did not want to alter the settings. It is doing just as I need it to.

So I remember the settings on it I have taken a few photos so that if we need to change them I know where to set it to keep the hexie project going between times.

We now have four sewing machines that work. That is until something else goes wrong.