10th May 2014

A lovely few hours spent together today at our usual gathering place, upstairs at The Quilters Store Salisbury where this month we welcomed Violet who shared a little about herself whilst working on these lovely big hexies.

Margaret was on to a great idea with these bags, purchased from Woolworths supermarket for just $2 then covered in Suffolk puffs & hot glued into place. Don’t they look great!  I think each and every one of us was inspired to buy one or three of these bags and do our own decorating in the near future. Excellent gift idea.  Violet was quick to nip downstairs and purchase a couple of Clover puff makers after a quick demo from Margaret on how easy the discs are to use & the great results they give.

Apologies in advance for the new addiction Violet lol.  That’s the thing with us, sharing is caring and every get together someone always has something to inspire the rest of us

 

Janet popped in for a quick visit & showed us the stash-busting placemats she’s been busy with. Love those little pegs to.

Gail isn’t sure what this stitchery will become yet but having begun the tradition of making a Christmas Stocking for each of her grand children, this may become part of Number 10’s stocking.

Julie was working on her hexi’s which I didn’t get a pic of sorry Julie, maybe because I was stunned by how many beautiful and unique cards she has been making. We don’t know where she finds the time but boy, they look great.

I put the finishing touches on my A5 journal cover and brought along some quilling I’ve been playing with. I could have removed the scraps bits before taking the photo. Oops.

Ann was working on her stitchery from last month, telling us that she will be away next get together, travelling to Alaska, Canada & Hawaii. We will miss you – have a wonderful trip.  Also away for our June get together will be our worldly traveller Margaret, visiting Norfolk Island. There will be lots of travel stories to hear about in July!

Kayt was hand quilting this beauty to be given to a friend and had us in fits of laughter as we each introduced ourselves to Violet – you had to be there! So come along on June 14th. We’d love to see you then.

Happy stitching

Sharon

April 12, 2014 Get Together

Today was a hive of chatter in the upstairs sewing / meeting room at The Quilters Store.  It was wonderful to see Ann back with tales of her recent Quilting Cruise and news of their plans to visit Alaska & Hawaii mid year whilst she worked on her stitchery. Perhaps next time we’ll get to see the projects from the classes she took on the cruise….

Julie livened up the gathering, bringing along these cute Shelby ‘no sock’ Sock Monkeys, by Funky Friends Factory, made for her adorable grandchildren

and had been busy with Clover Flower Makers, adding these cute flowers to her collection of embellishments. Great idea adding the ladybug buttons don’t you think?

Kayt entertained us, filling us in on what’s been happening since her last visit and brought along this lovely quilt, made for her great niece.  It’s bound to be much loved.  Several of us in the group would have happily given it a new home!

Margaret is still sewing up a storm though I don’t know where she finds the time between her travelling adventures!  It’s always exciting to hear where she’s been and where she is off to next, because there are always interesting stories shared.  There are some baskets, a bag and a no-sew glasses case and no-sew passport holder (from a Studio Mio class at the recent Craft Show) she bought along as recent finishes:

Helen also attended a make and take class at the craft show and brought along her dying projectWhist working on this sweet miniature heart quiltEach square was so small and the heart even more tiny!

Speaking of hearts, each of us contributed some ‘healing hearts’ for a mutual dear friend  who’s son passed away tragically recently.  A beautiful assortment for a wonderful lady.

Jumping back to flowers, I’d been busy and covered some buttons as the centres whilst listening to all the chatter. They’ll make pretty brooches & hair accessories I think when finished off.

I brought along a Christmas book that I’ve made for our eldest daughter who is getting married and officially beginning her own family journey as such next month. It’s a tradition we have had in our family for many years, each of us filling in a page on Christmas morning and reading back through it of the events of previous years.

Their book is top right in the pic

Lastly, my recently completed no-sew Studio Mio purse, not from the recent show like Margaret's, but a kit purchase from the show last year – just to prove you don’t have to be an over-achiever to join us at the get togethers!

You know what they say about “slow and steady” – she didn’t win the race, NOOO she forgot it was in her stash!!!

As cyclone Ita makes her way down the Qld coast, it was time for a little bird bath at my house this (now Sunday) morning before the winds pick up on the Bayside of Brisbane – this is Cheeky, my pet Galah of some 15 years or so enjoying the weather.

Happy Stitching, until next time

Sharon

8 March 2014

A chatty group of ladies met on Saturday at The Quilters Store for our monthly get – together where plans were also made to catch up at the looming Stitches & Craft show in Brisbane later this month

Helen knitted along side her lovely basket

…showing us these cute felt wrist bands etc for her nieces and nephews

Margaret brought along a teeny tiny version of the bag version she’s shown us before….

…and showed us her new mug and mug bag.

Julie was adding a second round of green hexagons to her quilt which is taking shape very nicely….

…and gave us all a tutorial on her new acquisition, this very clever perfect bow maker.

Don’t they turn out beautifully….

And me, well my boss went to a conference last week and brought me back a calico bag (& a usb stick and some pens) so I covered the logo on it with this pretty hexi flower – I don’t think he’ll want it back now haha.  Not much to show for a month between get-togethers from me but oh well, life just gets in the way sometimes doesn’t it girls!

Next get –together is Saturday the 12th of April where who knows what exciting show and tell we’ll see especially after Anne has returned from her sewing cruise on the high seas.  There may even be another impromptu tutorial by one of our gifted ladies to excite us.  There’s always something happening, so bring your lunch and come along, the kettle’s always on and we will see you then

Happy Sewing

Sharon

2014–we’re back!

Today a lively group of us returned after our 3 month Christmas break (from get togethers) to sew up a storm,  meeting at The Quilters Store Salisbury, our usual venue (thank you Karen!) to begin our 2014 get togethers.  Special mention to Jan who came along today – so nice to meet you!

Remember these from the last blog post & November break up meeting?

Well today was D-day to return the “ugly” FQ eight of us swapped with each other, having made it into something (ahem, Shaaryn haha)to be gifted today.  Well what a variety of outcomes were achieved and I think I safely say that everyone was happy with what they got in our final product swap today.  I know I was absolutely delighted to get the beautiful bag duo Julie made & lined with oil cloth.  Ok, so one of us may not have completely grasped the concept to actually finish the project (a laughing point for most of the meeting, you’re  a good sport Shaaryn) – submitting a …….mini panel I think it’s called?  We laughed, because the thought was there and as you can see, Kayt could see potential in the gift she received much to our amusement.A possible future head piece? Maybe even a future fancy coaster? !

A few of the girls that came along today weren’t in the November swap & were nominated as the judges.  The ‘winner’ with the best use of the UGLY FQ ………..is………

Kayt (above right) who made an insulated lunch bag with magazine pocket on the back of it – a must for every quilter.  Margaret F was the lucky one to draw clever Kayt’s creation.  Congratulations Kayt!

UGLY FQ’s also becamea mug bag

a reversible tote bag / mug bagA sunnies case, chatelaine & lounge chair caddy

You’ll notice 2 projects missing?  Anne was away today, her creation goes to Helen on her return and Margaret F had a senior moment (it’s ok, I have them frequently to!) so when she does remember to bring it along, it will go to Anne.  So the swap will be completed in full with photo’s in March.  Stay tuned for the March post….

There was some show and tell today to.  Julie had some holiday time at home (only a couple of days can you believe it?!) around Christmas time and produced these beauties

Front Back

& Quilt number 2

Jan brought along this STUNNING hand pieced and quilted quilt – is it a WOW quilt or what!

….and this pretty piece with machine quilting examples. What a neat idea, thanks Jan.

This bright happy bag is by Kayt, one of many she made as giftsand this one from 4 inch squares a special request that Margaret made.  Cute tied sides.

Marg also perfected this pattern to be able to sew it all by machine, adapting it from a hand sewn project.

Helen made this lovely bag with buttoned pockets

and this for her Dad as a laptop bag

and Shaaryn had this lovely 9 patch under construction (yes, we noticed a ‘theme’ happening here to lol)

Here’s Jan & Margaret L sorting through Kayt’s prize box of choccies and here’s all of us stitching and chatting…

So come along in March, the second Saturday upstairs at the Quilters Store in Salisbury Brisbane between 10am & 3pm and we’ll welcome you then

Happy stitching

Sharon