Happy Easter everyone, just made this up using EQ6 to celebrate! I'm on holiday for two weeks, so hopefully some sewing will happen. Hope you all have a great holiday, and get a chance to sew too!
Are you planning to sew over Easter? Leave a comment below telling us about it.
My sewing group has been swapping 4.5" nine patch blocks (see some above). I have been thinking about what I'm going to do with them all. There's 2 sets of 120 blocks, one in brights and the other muddy colours. Each set will be made into a different quilt. I'd like to set them with an alternate block. So have come up with the ideas below. What does everyone out there think? Write me a comment telling what you think. Or suggest something different, all ideas welcome. Leeann
Four X block (3 colours)
Snowball Blocks
1/2 sq Triangles
Four X Blocks (2 colours)
With 1/2 Sq Triangles
to look like Friendship Stars
This is log of the last 500 visitors to the blog, and where they are (click on picture to see larger). I thought it was interesting, mostly NZ, with a few other countries. I wonder what the people in Egypt and Belgium thought of it?
All comments welcome, just click on comments below to share your thoughts. Leeann
Reading Kiwiquilters List this morning, I found out that Super Gold Card holders get 15% off at Spotlight stores (discount off full price, not off items on sale). I checked it out on the gold card site to confirm, so if you have a Super Gold Card remember to use it. Or take your Mum with you if she has one ;-)
If you enjoy a post or have something to add, please leave a comment. They are always welcome, just click on the word comments below, Leeann
Last Friday Fiona, Maria and I went on a quilters day out to Auckland, to see "Quilts Across the Ranges" the Western Quilters Circle 25th Anniversary Show. First we had to drop Fiona's Mother off in Otahuhu, then find our way back to Kelston for the show. As I moved into the front seat, Fiona said I was now the navigator and handed me the map. Mmmm... was now the time to say that sometimes I get right and left confused?? Anyway was ok for a while, and then Maria in the back seat took the map and got us there. Thank you Maria!
The Quilt Show was really good and we had a hard time picking Viewers Choice. We also managed to spend some money with the merchants, and on raffles.
On the way home we stopped at the quilt shop in Warkworth (Alisons Nimble Fingers) for a little more retail therapy. It's a great shop, small but it has an incredible range of products. Well worth a look.
Then it was home to Whangarei, testing the shock absorbers on Fiona's car, over the road works and rumble strips. (Just to make sure we were awake) Fiona said! :-)
Go to http://www.thequiltshow.com/ because today only, all their shows are available to watch for free! This is to celebrate National Quilting Day (USA). You have to sign in but is very easy. Click on the link above, then click on "watch shows", then where it says "Not a Member?" sign up.
The Quilt Show is an internet "tv" show about quilting. Hosts are Alex Anderson (Simply Quilts Fame) & Ricky Tims.
(This will go a little into sunday here too, as USA behind us timewise)
I found this the other day on youtube. It's a traditional Japanese technique, of folding and knotting fabric to make bags. It's very interesting, have a look.
One of the Raffle prizes last Saturday was a 'Roll Up' quilt block carrier. This was made and donated by a member, sorry I don't know who. It was very popular, and a lot of people said they would like to make one, if they didn't win it. So I've done and little searching and found a pattern on Green Bird Machine Quilting. Wonder if any will be made up for show & tell next month?
Sandy Lang and her sister Leonie Olsen arrived in style to our march quilting meeting. Sandy had this Harley Trike specially made for her. It doesn't just look impressive, it sounds it too. I'd forgotton the deep rumble these bikes make, until it was time for them to leave. I'm thinking my Camry's not so cool! Are there other NZ quilters with Harley's?
Below is only other quilter I know of who has a Harley. American Quilter Ricky Tims.(Convergence Quilts, Rhapsody Quilts)
This wall hanging is by Lynne Wilson. Pattern is by Jenny Hunter who was our guest speaker at Regional Day last year. (It's in an issue of NZ Quilter) Made with the most wonderful colours, it just glowed. Sorry photo is a bit washed out as there was a glass door just to left.
This is by Lynne too. She was asked to bring this quilt, as its never been to Show and Tell before. It is the first quilt Lynne ever made. It was made in night classes taught by Donna Ward in Hamilton, a few years ago. A lot of complex blocks for a beginner, you must be a fast learner Lynne. Sorry the top of quilt is cut off in photo, I'll have to try harder with my photography.
Helen Barron has made and hand quilted, this large bed quilt for Hospice to sell. These little pigs are very cute. The person who buys this will be very lucky. Quilts are on sale at the Allsorts Hospice Shop (Whangarei) on the first thursday of every month.
This quilt was made by Robyn Halverson from the book "Skinny Quilts & Table Runners". She hand dyed most of the fabrics herself. She also dyed a white lumpy wool to match, and couched it in spirals using her new couching foot.
Good on you for using your new foot Robyn. I've had one a few months now, and not used it, but I think you have inspired me have a go, Leeann.
This Quilt is by Sandy Robinson. It was started in the "Serendipity Stars" class with Barbara Bilyard last year. This is Sandy's first completed quilt, and also the first quilt she has quilted using her longarm quilting machine. Well done Sandy on finishing your first quilt.
This wall hanging wasn't in show and tell but we cornered Gaye Miller on the way out and snapped it. Its a McKenna Ryan design. Gaye said it was a challenge, as not the usual colours she works with.
Wow what a great meeting we had today. Our guest speaker was Anne Juddery from the Whangarei Museum. The textiles she bought to show us were very interesting and real treasures. We all should make a trip to the Museum, as there are many more wonderful pieces there that are too fragile for her to bring. I like what she said about us making the treasures of tomorrow.
Sadly Linda Thornton was a visitor to club for the last time today. She and husband Andy are off again on their sailing boat Coromandel Quest (picture below). She showed us her latest Journal Quilts with a NZ theme. The idea of making these small quilts is to capture the essence of the places/events as they sail around the world. It has been wonderful having Linda as part our group. I look forward to reading updates, of their exciting travels on their website Coromandel Quest. We are all very lucky to have spent some time with her and hopefully some of her passion for life has rubbed off on us all.
I'll write more tomorrow about the rest of the meeting
Leeann
Have you ever wondered about how your sewing machine works?
Click here and have a look at this animation it's magic!
Did you know the Whangarei Library has heaps of quilting books? Over 200 when I did a search. That was using quilting in the search box, but try other things like patchwork,textiles and embroidery etc, and you will find more again.
The only problem is everytime I went to the library, the books I wanted were out, or at another branch. So I now order them online using the library website.
Its really easy to use their website, and when you search the catalogue a picture of the book is shown too. (see above) You can request books on the website and the library will sent you an email (if they have your email address) or a letter to say come and pick them up. You can even ask them to buy a book, and then you get it first!
A tip for using the search, if you want to see the newest books, sort them by "Publication date" (see picture below), it's on top right hand side of the catalogue search. Then you will have to go to the last page as they a listed from oldest to newest.
If you have favourite authors, check out their websites to see when their next book is coming out. You can then request it from library, before the library buys it, and be the first or second to get the book. I do this for the crime and mystery novels I read it's great.
These books are usually "best sellers" that you hire for $2 or $3, but the library always has another copy of the same book for free borrowing. SO when you are requesting a very popular book just be careful to request the free one.
Bonnie Hunters website http://www.quiltville.com/ is one of my favorite sites, it's one of the sites that I spoke about at our last meeting (Feb). If you haven't had a look at it yet go now... maybe get a coffee first as you will be there a long time. It's packed full of great articles, patterns, tips etc
This website has wonderful machine quilting, there are free designs to download and dvds to buy. Have a look Patsy Thompson Designs.
Our Merchants from Feb Meeting were Kerry Glen of Tulis, & Mary Metcalf of Kiwiquilts, check out their sites and order more fabric if you didn't buy enough last month!
There are allsorts of curved blocks in this book, below are two, Log Cabin and a Rose.This book will be on the new book table at the March meeting of Whangarei Patchwork & Quilters. Check out Karen's website by clicking on her name, there's plenty to see there.
