Thursday 23 May 2013

Two new members.......

I'll start this week by wishing a warm welcome to two new members who joined us this week, Vanessa and Louise.  Both have a background in stitching over the years and enjoyed meeting like minded ladies.  I think they were both surprised at the diversity of techniques and the talent displayed by existing members, and both Louise and Vanessa were  fired up with enthusiasm to try out new projects.  Indeed I heard Vanessa talking about buying a new sewing machine!
It was good to see HelenB back as well, with her lovely gold-work embroidery


and HelenP too, who spent the day filing her samples from recent Diversity "play-days".  Very organised Helen!

Although Jan hasn't quite finished her quilt for  her latest grandson George, she brought it along to be photographed before it wings it's way off to it's new owner.  The quilt is based around the children's  story book character "Gruffalo, who sits in the centre of the quilt, surrounded by his friends.  


a realistic looking Gruffalo!

Jan also brought in her Mystery Quilt, now looking like a quilt again.  Jan used directional fabrics in one of the borders, which did not work in the original layout.  This was a mistake on my part because when I designed the quilt for the project  unfortunately I hadn't thought about directional fabrics and their importance.  Lesson learned now though!!!  Others who took part in the workshop managed to work around their fabrics, but Jan's just wouldn't comply!  So unbeknown to me, she took the quilt apart and intended making table runners from it, and when she told me I was disappointed for her and she says the look on my face prompted her to rethink the idea.  Now a few weeks after leaving it aside for awhile, she has put it back together again using a different border style, and intends finishing it off.  It's worth it Jan, you put a lot of work into it and it will look super when you have finished it!


New member Louise, brought in a crochet blanket she has been working on, and MargaretW showed us a little sunbonnet she has made for her granddaughter from a free pattern she found in the Daily Mail recently.  Margaret added little blue stars in the hat to complement the yarns in the bonnet brim.


When there are no workshops running, those ladies that bring in their sewing machines to work with appear to have adopted one end of the hall, and this week it was a hive of activity.  Jill worked on a bargello project after missing Christine's workshop recently.  Carol has started another drunkards path quilt, this time for her grandaughter, in stunning oranges, fiery reds and black.   Pam, who must stitch in her sleep the amount of work she produces, brought a completed quilted bargello wall hanging to show us, and some pillow cases she is working on, two of which are adaptations of the Owl  Workshop she attended  recently and are very pretty,



and ChristineSp continued working on her double wedding ring project from a workshop she recently attended taught by Jenny.


Before coming to the meeting this week, Jan and Kath called in our old meeting hall to collect odds and ends left behind in storage.  They came back with various boxes and bags, amongst which were dozens of magazines we have collected over the years, and bags of off-cuts of fabrics left over from members' projects.  It couldn't all be kept so many members were happy to take magazines home to scour for new project ideas and others found "just the right bit" of fabric for future work.  


Helen and Carole sorted through the magazines, and


Gwen and Tricia  sorted through a jar of odds and ends of threads and fibres from the old hall, while MargaretW continued quilting her Hungry Caterpillar quilt,


and Sandy and Rozanne chatted over their knitting


Next week, HelenP will be stepping in here for me again, as I am away in the UK for two or three weeks visiting family, so I will look forward to catching up with you all then.  Have  a good week.
                                                                                                                       Rachel















Saturday 18 May 2013

Bob the Builder x2 Part 2!!

Hi there - just because I put x2 on the previous blog didn't mean that I was going to do two blogs!!! Please read the earlier blog first - then, hopefully, this blog will make sense!!!

So, here goes . . .
detail of the table runner shown below

One of Gwen's completed table runners using the Makower range of fabrics that
some members used for the Byzantium wallhanging


 
Gwen also brough along another table runner which she has completed - see photo below.
 
 



Jo and Mary chatted away about their respective projects - Jo shared her completed Chopstick cushion cover - see photos below. Mary had her lacemaking with her - hopefully she will bring it again as it prompted talk amongst other members - some of whom had made lace before but some time ago!! I, for one, would be tempted to take it up again - it is so relaxing.
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Jill and Gill discussed Jill's Diversity project piece - it is definitely taking shape and word on the campo is that it is finished!!! Well done Jill!
 
 
 
 
 
And, finally, a couple of photos of busy people, til the next time, hasta luego, Helen. xx
 
 
 


 

Bob the Builder x 2


Hi Ladies, it is Helen blogging today as Rachel wasn't able to attend the meeting. I was pleased to be back after having missed a few meetings due to getting ready for, and then going back to, the UK - all new beginnings for me over there and that has led to a release of creativity over here!!
Talking of creativity - it was there in a variety of forms at the meeting!! What has Bob the Builder got to do with it? You might well ask!!! Jan and Kath assembled our new store cupboard!!
You will have to excuse the quality of the photographs but they didn't build the cupboard with the photographer in mind!! They did, however, build the cupboard with much discussion and debate - so much so that we all thought it prudent to leave them to it!!! Never mind, now that they have built one the next will be a lot easier!!!



'this piece goes here', 'are you sure?', 'YES!!'




 
Well done to you both, you did a great job!!! xx
 
 
Jan was busy!! She also had Ann and Pam having a go on their interlocking machines - with mixed success - guess it is like free motion quilting - you have just got to keep at it!!
 


 
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the room it was relatively quiet. Carol was on a mission to complete her appliqued butterfly cushion - she tucked herself away in a quiet corner and got on with it! Likewise, Jill, on a mission to complete her second Block of the Month, - I am full of admiration for ladies who can really focus on the work they are doing. I am such a flitter!! Not like this settled butterfly of Carol's.
 
 


 
The photo above shows Jill with her finished Block of the Month - for some reason everytime I try to add a caption the photo jumps right up the blog!! The system is playing me up!!! I'll continue for now but think that the best thing to do is close this blog and start another one!! One last effort!!

Below is Chris B's Bargello work - she attended the class that Chris S led - it was a very popular class and I was sorry not to have a go at the technique - really tempted to start another project but decided to be a completer/finisher instead!!!


Chris B pointing out the quilting lines to Chris S.



OK - I give in!!! I will start another blog - sorry to the ladies who haven't got their work on here - you'll be on an extra special (all being well) blog!!
Happy sewing, Helen xx
 
 
 
 



 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

Friday 10 May 2013

Double Wedding Ring workshop........

It's a good thing we had very few members turn up for this week's meeting as the tables in the hall had been "borrowed" and not returned.  We had just enough for Jenny's ladies to make a start on the double wedding ring workshop with one or two to spare.  A visit to the town hall resulted in a very speedy delivery of more tables in time for late comers though.

The girls started by cutting out all the components for one block, here is Pam

Then they began piecing the outer rings.  Cath was persuaded to make her rings using multiple pieces in toning fabrics, in place of the single piece

Jenny gives Mary a demonstration in rotary cutting around the block template pieces

As the day progressed, the ring designs began to emerge, here Christine sees what her block will look like when stitched together

Cath got into the routine of chain piecing her rings, and after a few set-backs with her "b" pieces, soon saw the design emerge

I recognise that peach fabric Pam!

Christine attaching the end diamonds to the melon shapes.

At the other end of the hall, Ann wasn't able to complete her bargello project started during the Bargello workshop a few weeks ago, after running out of one small strip of fabric.  This Tuesday she could  work on finishing the project as Christine was able to come up with just enough of the missing fabric!

These two jolly fellows flew in for  a photo shoot,  the pale blue owl is Ann's and the owl with hooded eyes, is Pam's.
Jo (right) who joined the group a few months ago, brought along her sister Mary to see what we get up to.  Despite it being a very quiet meeting Mary and Jo have decided they would like  to come to meetings on a regular basis when they are over here.  We look forward to seeing you.

Sarah brought along her sewing machine and put the finishing stitches to her Chopkey Cushion, made during a recent workshop, while she chatted to Lesley who was busy working a cross stitch project.



Eloise brought along two completed projects to show us, a paper pieced star hanging, above, and a tied quilt    below, being held by Kath and Gill.  Eloise said she couldn't face quilting a quilt this size on her machine so she tied it instead.  Well why not, after all, this is how they were done in times gone by. 


Thanks for dropping by, hope to see you next week, when the girls will be making more wedding ring blocks to complete their projects, and Jan will be showing one or two members how to thread their overlockers
                                                                                          Rachel