Full house again........

Despite a couple of regular members being away we still had thirty members attend this week's meeting, and there was hardly a chair to spare!
There are quite a number of projects nearing completion or completed, especially the Row-by-Row quilts.

Helen Hulme's row-by-row quilt just needs the binding adding, while Christine Speller has completed a dog-themed quilt for her niece who has  terrier and labrador dogs

Ann is well on the way to completing her row-by-row quilt (above) too, and Pam has finished hers (below). 

Jill's completed version of the row-by-row project is shown above. 

 And above is Louise's version.   These quilts are going to make a stunning display at our exhibition later this year.  Louise had never tried patchwork and quilting before joining in this workshop, and enjoyed it so much she started another lap quilt at the same time, and has discovered she really enjoys the hand quilting too.

Louise's second quilt

Jenny has used her own hand dyed fabrics to make a wholecloth hanging and worked an all-over quilting pattern over it, which she designed and digitized herself.

The front of Jenny's piece

Quilting design detail

The reverse fabric on Jenny's quilt

Sheila, below continues to knit for the charity which she supports and by the end of the morning had all but completed another cardigan for the Green Fields Africa.  It just needs it's buttons adding.  More information on the charity can be found HERE and then by clicking on the charity name.

Christine Speller has also just completed a pretty quilt for her granddaughter while Kath (below left) is making progress with her knitting.

Mercedes brought in a tote bag and purse she has made.  Mercedes works fine needle-turn applique on intricate pieces.

The detailed motif on the front of Mercedes' tote bag

Mercedes with her purse

Pam seen above with Ann, is discussing her dilemma in choosing a new sewing machine.  Pam, who up until now has been working on two small standard machines, intends making a considerable investment in a new machine and has to decide whether to purchase  an embroidery/sewing machine, or a sewing machine with quilting features.  Below Pam is trying out Jenny's Janome embroidery/sewing machine to see what she thinks and next week she will try out a Bernina.  Pam enjoys all aspects of machine work, from piecing quilts to adding embellishments with embroidery stitches, but also really enjoys free-motion quilting, and needs to make sure her choice of machine will do all these things.

Mercedes, Jan and Jenny (right) discussing her quilt

Jenny is at the quilting stage of the commission quilt she took on for a friend and neighbour, and brought in the quilt to ask opinions on quilting ideas for it, and Jacqueline continues with her bobbin lace project. Jacqueline confirmed it's a project she started many years ago and is seeking advice and from Marilyn on how to proceed with it.

Jacqueline (left), Helen and Marilyn (standing)

That's about it for this week.  Next week we have Jill's friend coming in with a selection of handbags for us to buy, so it will be a busy session!  Thanks for reading, hope to see you next time.   Rachel

Two Groups meeting........

Today saw our two groups meeting in the same hall.  Diversity members, who are also VSS members, met in a corner of the room to discuss where they are heading with this year's project "the journey".  Both groups meeting on the same day is not ideal as space is at a premium, and Diversity members often need more space for paints and other wet media.  It's a recipe for disaster trying to work with these processes when there are lots of people moving about, no one wants to spoil anyone else's work with splashes of dye or paint!  So it's with much relief that the Diversity girls will be able to resume their meetings on Wednesday's from next month, now that the room is no longer needed by Town Hall staff on that day.   Below you can see Jenny, Cath and Carol with samples of Gwen's work left,  Jenny's center,  and Cath's designs laying on the table.

We discussed further designs needed for the Group Charity Raffle Quilt which Helen Bush (seen below) is drawing for us.  All the applique blocks have been returned completed now, embroidered and quilted.  Helen will be working on some quilting stencil designs for the corner blocks and setting triangles which surround four on-point applique blocks making up the centre of the quilt.  Rozanne has volunteered, (or was she coerced?) to do the hand quilting on these blocks, and yesterday a trip was made to our local fabric shop in Torre del Mar, with the completed applique blocks, where after much trial and error and patience from the sales lady, a pretty fresh looking fabric has been chosen for the sashing and binding to complete the quilt.

Two more of the butterfly blocks for the raffle quilt

Don't forget to pop over to our website to see more blocks and follow progress as it's made on this quilt.

Marilyn spent the morning this week showing Jacqueline how to bobbin lace.  Although I didn't get round to asking Jacqueline, it looks as though this wasn't entirely the first time she's tried this technique as she was well set up with her own pillow and wound bobbins, already producing lace.  Sorry Jacqueline I will chat with you next week.

Jacqueline left with tutor Marilyn standing

Vanessa who very recently moved into her new home, was table deep in fresh white net curtains, while the knitting circle, as always seem to be sharing a joke or two.

From left to right, Sandy, Eleanor, Shirley and Sue

Chris is just finishing off this gorgeous dress for her granddaughter

Pam was having fun(!) working out the layout for her latest scrappy quilt project, while Christine is thinking ahead to Christmas using up her scrap fabrics.

Tricia and Penny

Trish is getting on with her Japanese themed project, and has now added a border of contrasting gold fabric to the central panel.  Unfortunately I didn't photograph this well, so hopefully I'll see it again next week.  

Penny's geese

Penny was making strange looking white stuffed things, which when I asked, turned out to be white geese.  Of course once that was pointed out I could see the resemblance, and as I was seeing Penny again yesterday I challenged her to show me a finished one.  I'm ashamed to say that I then forgot to photograph it!  Sorry Penny, hopefully she will bring them in again next week to show us the completed gaggle. 

Sharon showed us some striking fabrics she had ice-dyed with Jill over the weekend, along with a

 t-shirt dyed in the same way.  Above are Sharon and Jill holding up the dyed t-shirt, with another amazing fabric below.  

 This is such a satisfying method of dyeing for those of us who have tried it before, that showing us these fabrics prompted almost all of us immediately to say "I'll have to go home and do some now!"

Sharon who visits her friend Jill here several times a year for two or three weeks during school holidays and comes along to Sew&Sews meetings when she's here, has endless energy it seems to me.  This is the third project I have seen her working on in the short time she's been here this time!  Sharon is seen here with a seasonal table runner she has almost completed.

Above, Jan is concentrating really hard threading a needle to continue hemming the binding to finish off her latest patchwork and machine-embroidered quilt, and below is the completed woven crochet blanket made by Maureen and donated as a raffle prize for the exhibition later this year.   These lap sized blankets have proved very popular with Spanish visitors to the show in previous years, so we hope to raise even more money for our adopted causes at this coming autumn exhibition, and there are one or two more being made and donated using surplus yarns donated by past members of the group.

That's another week gone by, thanks for reading and  I look forward to seeing you next time, Rachel

Back in the seat .........

It´s great to be back after my trip, and firstly I want to thank Yvonne again for taking photos and doing blog updates while I've been away.
Secondly I must say how lovely the blocks are looking for the Raffle Quilt.  I hope everyone enjoyed taking part in the various processes so far, especially those who don't usually work in these techniques.  I think the final quilt will look stunning.  Thank you again to group member Helen (Bush) for her lovely original drawings.

A couple of the quilted and embroidered blocks

It seems that while I've been away, the final stitches have been put into most of the row-by-row quilts too. I'm hoping they will all make their way back to the hall for photographing when they are finished.  Here is Jill adding the last binding stitches to hers below,

and Louise above, doing lots of lovely dense hand quilting.  I have to admit to loving the look of this type of quilting.  Louise told me that she has found it to be really addictive and keeps finding more areas she can stitch!   This is Louise's first venture into the patchwork and quilting world and despite initially being quite scared,  I know she is well and truly hooked. 

After reading about our newest member Marilyn's bobbin lace making in a previous blog from Yvonne, I was surprised to see her embroidering pretty flowers on small patches, with a pile of patchwork blocks alongside them.  

Marilyn has to finish this quilt by June I think, so she has lots to be getting on with over the coming weeks.  In the UK Marilyn belonged to both embroidery and quilting groups separately, and was delighted to hear from friends here in Viñuela, about our Group.  Marilyn says she was directed to our Group Website saw all the different things our members do and thought that the Group would be an ideal one for her to join.

I enjoyed catching up with Eloise again after many months too.  Eloise is making a second Jacobean Fan quilt using foundation piecing.

Eloise, seated, discussing her fan blocks with Christine

Carole below, is making a quilt for her son using up strips left over from previous projects

Jacqueline above, continues to work on her cross-stitch picture and Carol has almost completed her lovely fresh looking tablecloth with  white geese waddling all around the edge of it!

Margaret and Sandy worked on their knitting projects, while Rozanne worked on her latest patchwork project.

Margaret, left, Rozanne and Sandy right.

A cushion cover made by Rozanne to go with bunting shown in a recent blog, made for her granddaughter

Penny above right, has been showing Pam how to make Suffolk buttons.  Quite an uphill feat as Pam herself admits she is not a hand stitcher, much preferring to work by machine..... less fiddly and quicker too!!

Pam's more preferred method of working, patchwork blocks, ready for a Christmas project

Jill too is thinking of Christmas with this stocking.  You´ll get lots of pressies in there Jill!

Helen has almost finished her landscape project

Christine, Cath and Louise

Carol above is modelling a classic style quilted jacket she is modifying slightly, while Sharon below, works on her latest patchwork project.

Sharon had received a parcel of patchwork magazines from a friend in New Zealand, and decided to repay her kindness by making her friend a project from one of the magazines to show her appreciation. 

I think that's about it this week, except to apologise for being so late writing this, it won´t be many days before the next meeting, and I´ll be back again!

Have a good weekend, thanks for stopping by.  Rachel