Caroline Bay Quilters Quilt Show (Gosford)

You could make next weekend a two-quilt-shows event ... the Gosford Regional Gallery is a lovely venue:

2014 Pantone Quilt Challenge winners online

If you like the Pantone 2014 colour of the year (Radiant Orchid), these quilts may be very appealing to you. The winners of the 2014 Pantone quilt challenge have been announced, and can be seen online here, at On The Windy Side.

You can view all of the entries in this flickr group.

A story about a boy, a proud father, and a quilt ...

Here is a lovely, but very poignant story, to warm a quilter's heart - but it does come with a tissue warning ...

• Preemie Baby Nearly Dies But Returns To The Hospital 13 Years Later To Repay A Kindness.

Recently, at Fairholme ...

Noelle has finished her lovely 'Rainbow Tapestry' quilt from our 
Power Stripping workshop (Nov 2012) in time for our Show.   
Mostly Kaffe Fassett fabrics. Quilted by Jane Rennie.

Robin W donates many of her quilts to our community
quilts project, for children, so it is good to hear that this one,
made in her favourite Kaffe Fassett fabrics is for herself.

Jill made this baby quilt, for her newest great-niece,
whose three year old sister requested princesses and castles
and pink (as featured in her own baby quilt).

Ginnie's colourful quilt-as-you-go is backed with the same
 cheerful print for each block, joined by red sashing
- totally reversible.

Don't forget to add a sleeve to your show quilt!

Origin of SLEEVE
Middle English sleve, from Old English slīefe; perhaps akin to Old English slēfan to slip (clothes) on, slūpan to slip, Old High German sliofan, Latin lubricus slippery
First Known Use: before 12th century ... (Source: Free Merriam-Webster dictionary online)

Overheard: an amusing conversation among some Fairholme members this week about their puzzlement as novice quilters at the very suggestion that a sleeve might be added to a quilt - how odd would that look? And just the one?

So here is a timely blog from Brenda Gael Smith for Fairholme members preparing quilts for our show in just 10 days, with a link to an excellent tutorial by Susan Brubaker Knapp: A “D” for Quilt Sleeves.

Australia's first Modern Quilt Show

Note: entries are invited via the online form:

www.modernquilters.com.au

modernquiltshow@gmail.com

Community Quilts 2012 - 2014 poster: a small sample

A small display of some of the quilts we have made for donation to community
causes will be featured at our quilt show in April.

Other quilts from the Fairholme Quilters 2014 Quilt Show are posted here.

A little historical background on The Kensington Quilt

The Kensington Quilt - detail of the centre
medallion. The oval panel is a reproduction
of John Hewson's 18th century design.

Should you want to know more about American quilt history, Barbara Brackman is your woman for thorough research made readily available through her blogs, writing and designs.

In this post from her 1812 War and Piecing blog, she talks about John and Zebiah Hewson's work, designing and using cotton fabrics in 18th century Philadelphia.

The feature fabric in The Kensington Quilt (being raffled in conjunction our Quilt Show 4th - 5th April) is a 2011 reproduction of John Hewson's designs, and the quilt design references the medallion style of that time.

(Proceeds from the quilt raffle will be donated to the Kuring-gai Mental Health Association)

The border fabric is from the same reproduction range,
the John Hewson Winterthur Museum collection,
produced by Andover Fabrics

Other quilts from the Fairholme Quilters 2014 Quilt Show are posted here.

Rescheduled: Kathy Doughty and Wendy Williams at Patchwork on Pittwater

Wendy Williams and Kathy Doughty's visit to Patchwork on Pittwater had to be postponed a few weeks ago, and has now been rescheduled:

Tuesday 15th April 2014 at 11am

A morning of inspiration with Kathy and Wendy.  Both  will be bringing along their new books and some fabulous quilts. No charge but we ask that you call to book in for catering purposes.  (Patchwork on Pittwater Newsletter, 18th march 2014

The Riley Blake sale at $16 per metre sounds attractive too.

Patchwork on Pittwater

Suite 28, 4th Floor (The Gateway Building)
1 Mona Vale Road, Mona Vale NSW 2103
Phone  9999 6159

20/3/2014: Robyn has posted on her Facebook page that this event is sold out.

Also at Fairholme this week ... the plaid project!

Some months ago, Helen-from-Tuesday-night donated
this basket to community quilts - it was filled with one
quilt top (bottom photo), and a good deal of plaid fabric, that she
originally collected for a plan that had stalled for
various reasons. 

This week, the indefatigable Dawn returned it, filled with ...

... one three dimensional double bow-tie quilt ...

... one more log cabin quilt ...

... two versions of this six-patch ...

... and one gorgeous strip quilt. 
All supplemented with cream fabrics from Dawn's own stash. 
All quilted and bound.

We had found backing and binding fabrics for all of them in our community stash ... but Dawn did all the work. Helen was delighted to see these five this week, and was so pleased that she had not discarded the stalled project altogether.

Many months ago, Dawn quilted and bound Helen's
finished top, and it was donated to a community group.

So thank you to both Helen and Dawn for this wonderful gift of six quilts!
(And we get to keep the basket!)

This week at Fairhome ...

We gathered up some quilted wall hangings, of various sizes, from members (and a couple of others) who happened to have them on hand, made sure they had hanging sleeves, and will send them off to the Springwood-Winmalee Bushfire Quilt Appeal for distribution later this month, as requested. by the beginning of this week, the appeal had collected 759 (!) bed quilts, knitted and crocheted blankets donated from all over. Some were made from donated materials, by the Springwood Salvation Army Quilters. What a great result for this grass-roots project, coordinated by Tracey Greenaway.  You can read about the appeal and distribution of the quilts here.

Pat

Pat

Caring Hearts Community Quilters (via Dawn's niece)

Ann (Jill's sister)

Jill

Jill

Elaine B

Springwood Community Quilt Show : 25 - 27 April

There are, of course, other quilt shows coming up ... the Springwood Community Quilt Show falls on the ANZAC weekend this year, a good opportunity to head to the lower Blue Mountains for a touch of autumn, and a great show.  Fundraising is for the Blue Mountains Rural Fire Service - especially important this year.  

The blog focussed on the show and their fabulous raffle quilt is a good way to keep in touch, and find all the details.

Friday 25th April - Sunday 27th April 2014
Springwood High School, Faulconbridge

The 8th quilt

The eighth and final quilt made from our Serendipity Circles workshop with Brenda Gael Smith last September is a melange of the blocks left over from all the others, some sized up to fit - so not exactly 'designed', but it is bright and cheerful ... and more importantly, it is finished, and will be welcomed by it's owner.

You can see all eight quilts here, and some will be on display at our show in April, for closer inspection.

This week at Fairholme ...

There is much sewing going on among our ranks in preparation for our show, which is just a month away (4th - 5th April, at Thornleigh). We won't show it all to you here before the show, of course, but here is a little of what was on show this week:

Helen's daughter-in-law will love this very big and
beautiful blue and white quilt.
Quilted by JoAnn Phillips of Quiltwise.

Detail of Helen's quilt

Robyn T's latest scrap quilt might be in the show,
 if it is finished in time.

• Fairholme Quilters 2014 Quilt Show flyer
• 2014 raffle quilts

Advance notice: red and white quilts in Sydney

Christmas Snowball, detail

Barbara Collins

Fairholme Quilters Exhibition 2012

Two colour quilts have a particular appeal, and red and white are amongst the most popular, so here is a display to look forward to, and perhaps to enter:

The Quilters Guild of NSW has given advance notice that for the 2015 Sydney Quilt Show, there will be a themed category of 'Red and White' quilts.

All details and entry criteria are on the Guild's website, here.

(For information about the 2014 Sydney Quilt Show, click on the button at the right)

Charm Pack Cherry - why didn't we think of that?

This has caused a little flurry of excitement on the interweb this week.  If one were better organised, one might have a photo of one's own version by now, but you'll have to follow the links to see pictures. It's more interesting than a simple 9 patch, easier than a disappearing 9 patch ...

Are you one of the many quilters who has a charm pack or two (or several more) that you loved, had to buy and stashed them away, but lack either time or inspiration to magic them into quilts?

The Fat Quarter Shop is promoting its charm packs with a free pattern and video tutorial for a 'short cut' quilt, Charm Pack Cherry, that is appearing all over the blogosphere ... you will soon see why. It's cute, it's quick, it works with any style of fabric ... and charm packs are already selected to coordinate, so it's easy.

Check out pictures of some Charm Pack Cherries, and be inspired:

Material Culture (Barbara Brackman)
Monkey Do
Little Island Quilting
Farbstoff
Happy Quilting