Esther Aliu free mystery block-of-the-month

Well-known Melbourne quilter, teacher and award winner, Esther Aliu runs a block of the month project from time to time, offering each block pattern as a free dowload for the initial period of its release (each pattern can be purchased after the free period expires).  The current one is:

Hearts Desire free mystery block of the month

Victoria's 18th birthday quilt

Victoria has been one of our junior members for some years.  She's just turned 18 (congratulations Vic!), and been presented with this beauty, made by her Mum, Janet .... (and yes, it was bound in time!)

Embroideries are featured in the outermost vertical rows ....

Janet bought the Bronwyn Hayes pattern on our Southern Highlands shopping day in November.

How Jane filled in her time over the holidays ...

Dina's sister Cindy visited from the US for Christmas and New Year, and brought lots of ideas with her ....

These centre blocks are constructed with a weaving technique from free-cut strips ... and below is a detail of the free-floating shapes in the border ....

The lucky recipient of this beautiful kaleidoscope quilt will only have to look at it to feel warm!  Look at it for a while to discover all the patterns your eyes will find.

Batik pinwheels with a beautifully integrated pieced border.

You should be able to click on any of these images for a larger view.

Lorraine's granddaughter likes frogs - she's going to love this quilt!

Elaine made this very effective quilt for her cousin, from Aboriginal fabrics that she had bought while they were travelling together.

Memories of Japan

 Lorraine (above) and Lyn (below) recently showed us the small quilts they each made to remember their trip to Japan in 2009, on a quilting tour.

Christmas star challenge quilt top - first of two?

Elaine has already put some of the blocks from the Christmas challenge into this bright and cheery top, with some pretty lilac starry sashing donated by Maureen ... there's another one to come.

Christmas Star Challenge, 2010

The block challenge was won by Miriam for her 'Wish Upon a Star' block (bottom left)

(Click on the image for a larger view, then again for an even larger view)

Thanks to Sue for the photos.

A little quilt movie

Here's something to keep you amused while the latest pics of members' quilts get themselves organised - a very nice animation from Gayle Thomas, produced by the National Film Board of Canada:
A tribute to the unique and long-established art form of patchwork quilting, this abstract animated film uses computer and experimental techniques to choreograph quilt motifs and designs to music.



Or click here - guaranteed to make you smile and tap your feet.

Quilters are everywhere ...

..... is this as far from the stereotypical quilter as you can imagine?