Will we see some of these on exhibition? Maybe .....

Jean's pretty florals are ingeniuosly arranged rows of rotated rail fence blocks and squares, forming two differnet frames for some of the floral blocks, while the others appear to "float" - clever, and very effective.

Maureen found this fabulous mix of fabrics entirely in her stash - although she did buy the stunning backing fabric especially for this quilt, destined for her lucky daughter's living room.

Elaine's bright blocks are arranged in a more regular pattern than might appear at first glance.

Janet made Fire and Ice for her son's 18th - a "no flowers" request!

A novel source of great fabric!

Mrs Schmenkman Quilts sometimes takes a wry look at the quilting life, and often comes up with very cute ideas. Scroll down a little in this post, to the fabric with the very nice car print, and take note of its source - as Mrs S says, make sure you get the largest size available!

Anyone know if we will see Liberty of London in Target stores in Australia?

Changi quilt at the V & A

Thanks to Sarah Fielke from The Last Piece for passing on this link to a UK Channel 4 news story about the Changi Quilt which is included in the current exhibition at the V & A in London. The video is, as Sarah commented, slow to load, but worth watching, to hear the first hand account of the quilt's making.

The National Quilt Register lists this quilt here. Sheila Allan's Diary of a Girl in Changi Prison, is apparently out of print, but appears to be readily available from community libraries. The third edition, a paperback (ISBN 0684034700), published in the US in 2005, " ..... includes a new Preface and Conclusion, which tie up the 'loose ends' of the original Diary of a Girl in Changi. Also included is information on the Changi quilts." www.fishpond.com.au

Three signature quilts were also made in Changi Prison. The Australian War Memorial online Encyclopedia entry about the Changi quilts they hold can be accessed here.

Margarte Rolfe wrote about the Changi Quilts in her book, Australian Quilt Heritage (available for Fairholme members to borrow from our library, or for purchase from Logan's).

A colourwash double wedding ring quilt in the making

Quiltsalott is a "local" blog - Janet's profile says she is a New Zealander who lives in NSW. Lots of nice things to see and read about, including this post about the origins and making of her colourwash double wedding ring quilt, which features in her blog header.

She's giving it a rest for a little while, till the winter makes hand quilting more comfortable - meanwhile we can admire it onscreen, and marvel at those tiny stitches, and the beautiful applique and piecing. It's interesting to see where the ideas came from and how Janet has realised them so stunningly.

Windows of My Life

Bev has made "Windows of My Life" for her grandson, Andrew's 18th birthday. It includes some of his drawings transferred to fabric, and other fabrics reflecting his interests, including guitars, bowling, marine life, some reminders of Australia and the many places he has travelled. Andrew is particularly interested in movies and drama, and Bev has cleverly included references to them through both the feature fabrics and the black and white window frames, and with a "film" fabric for the border. The three dimensional effect of the two-colour window frames shows up well in the photo. The backing of black with a curvy white line and dots compliments the front beautifully.

We'll be able to see it up close at the exhibition in April, and Andrew will be delighted with it June.

Elizabeth Ann Derrick 23rd February 1940 - 11th March 2010

Today, many of us were able to join Ann Derrick's family and other friends at her memorial service - a lovely, moving celebration of her rich life. Of course there were tears, but much love and the greatest respect for a woman cherished by many. The church was very full, and decorated with some of Ann's spectacular needlework, that we had been privileged to see her working on - a wall hanging, a communion table covering, and a Lenten banner, placed there not just for the service, but because they were serving the purpose for which they were made. It was a very fitting tribute to some of her many skills, and her place in the congregation.

During the service, Alan read Ann's "A Quilter's Life", and he very kindly agreed that we could share it with you here.

A QUILTER'S LIFE - A QUILT RICHLY COLOURED AND DECORATED

All my family and friends have played a part in the construction of the 'Quilt of my Life', and some here will recognize themselves.

There are many pieces in my quilt, all different shapes and sizes, some straight and square, some with extreme bias, and there are some stars scattered around in the pattern. Quite often colours and patterns clash or don't work together, so some pieces need to be separated to achieve a harmonious result.

Sewing for Dance Concerts when I was a teenager began my love affair with fabrics, and this progressed to making Altar cloths and Banners for various churches. I was even commissioned to produce a challenging wall hanging for Northhaven retirement village.

The pattern of my life began in 1940 when I was born to Edythe and Horace Walter Ball. I was the younger of two girls and very shy, so my mother enrolled my sister Cate and I in Bessie Wheately's dancing school. We continued dancing well into our twenties, and Mum who was known as 'Scotty' played the piano and violin for our concert party. Uncle Clem was the singer and Catherine (Cate) and I danced, performed sketches, and sang. We loved the concert party as it was so much fun, and at the same time raised money for many charities. Once at Parramatta Goal, Clem sang 'Legion of the Lost' which gave us a laugh as it was so appropriate for us and the audience.

The best stars in my quilt are my children, and despite Dr. Spock, Cathie and Linda have turned out responsible upright adults, of whom I am very proud.

Like all quilts, age starts to show as it nears the end of its useful life. It is fading in parts, the colours need to be touched up, and the wadding has become somewhat lumpy. It is still richly textured, although wrinkles and lines are more evident. The seams are straining apart and the material needs to be handled with care.

This life pattern may not be to everyone's taste, but I am pleased with the end result, so to all of you who made me what I am today, I thank you sincerely.

I thank you all for the solace and peace I have from hard work in the garden, the love of nature, creativity of my quilt making, the friendship involved in these activities, and the wonderful feeling of accomplishment when the work is done.

Thank you my friends and family for my life.

(Redrafted from Ann's original work March 10, 2010)

Our deepest sympathy and our thoughts are with Alan, Linda, Cathie and their extended family, and Ann's many friends as we mourn her loss.

Monday group today ......

The photos can't really do justice to Robyn's gorgeous applique and hand quilted Australian native flowers quilt .... so be sure to have a close look at it during the Fairholme Quilters Exhibition, 16 - 18 April 2010 at Thornleigh !

Fairholme Quilters profiled in AP & Q

Australian Patchwork and Quilting magazine, Volume 18, Number 12 is due in the shops on Wednesday 10th March (subscribers already have received their copies by mail) ...... this is the issue in which Fairholme is the quilting group profiled.

You can see a brief preview of the issue (but not "our" pages) here.

Quilt Flap - a blog about vintage quilts

Quilt Flap is one of Cory Pepper's blogs - its focus is vintage and antique quilts, Cory Pepper is a well known teacher and designer, and a dedicated hand-quilter from North Carolina. There is much to entertain you here, and on the other blogs she maintains - just look at her profile for the others.

Dina's BIG quilts

Dina is off to the US in a few weeks, to visit her sister, a fellow quilter, and to visit the odd quilt exhibition (like Paducah!) and possibly to shop (and shop, and shop) for fabric. She's been getting some projects finished before she goes, so that Cindy can see what she has been up to (she's taking photos, not all of the quilts!)

This butterfly, like Jane's, is made with the aid of the wedge ruler. The wing fabric is stunning!

The "1778 Quilt" was a picture in a magazine, and Dina has drafted her own version, made with Japanese prints. It was quilted by Ellie Harrison, in a pattern called Carolina Rose, to reflect the provenance of the original quilt. The main motif of the quilting pattern is clearly visible in the detail below:

Several Tuesday Nighters made a version of Jane's "woven pattern - this is Dina's indigos woven into a square spiral, and quilted, again by Ellie Harrison, with butterfly pattern.

Another intriguing large quilt from Dina, made with just two fabrics - the light one has enough variation in colour and tone to give it great interest. A lot of triangles and bias edges went into the making of these blocks. The graphic patterns, including the "star-in-a-star-in-a-star" and the chain effect of the dark squares lined up on the diagonals are a lot more visible from a distance or in the photo, than at real size.

We look forward to what Dina brings back from her trip!