Quarantine Quilting (7)

A wonderful array of works in progress ...

Sue's very big teacup quilt is nearly done - all hand quilted
 except the final few inches of the last border that will
be done after the knife edge is complete.

Jenn's baby quilt top is for a little one approaching her
second birthday - made with half-square triangles left over
from her parents' wedding quilt. Pinwheels for the win!

Janet is ploughing through her unfinished projects,
including this lovely ‘Jamestown Landing’,
designed by Bonnie Hunter.

Janet pieced the crane blocks by hand,
but ran out of the small scale Japanese prints
she wanted to use to turn them on point ...

... until Noelle came to the rescue from her extensive 
Japanese stash, handed over at a welcome 
socially distanced coffee catch up.

Daphne is making good progress on her red and white quilt,
with clever cross blocks as counterpanes.

Jill found a 12 " remnant of the trippy 70s-ish
print in a local quilt shop about ten years ago, and
prevaricated about what to do with it. It took
quarantine for it to be made into a quilt top.

Quilt Stories: a You Tube playlist by Lisa Walton

Have you ever looked at a stunning, award winning quilt and wondered 'how on earth was that done?'

During quarantine, textile artist LisaWalton has created a You Tube Playlist called Quilt Stories - substantial interviews with award winning quilters, about the making of their iconic quilts. Videos range from 22 to 46 minutes - lots to listen to see, to enjoy, and generously made freely available. You can subscribe to the You Tube series, or follow Lisa on Facebook to see when new videos are released.

Come and meet Sue de Vanny and hear about her Reflections quilt.

https://youtu.be/ODGtk05hG1Y

Margaret Solomon Gunn talking about her award winning Value of Violet. Grab a coffee and enjoy it. Lots more fabulous interviews coming soon.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wPrdohKvdvQ

Quilting rockstar Ricky Tims about his Northern Lights quilt which has a beautiful and emotional memory for him.
https://youtu.be/7Ss8dwEMcPA

Jenny Bowker’s powerful award winning quilt After the Last Sky. An incredible emotive story inspiring an iconic quilt.
https://youtu.be/zyhZ5RmfX78

Peter Byrne who recently won Best of Show at QUILTCON 2020, and another major award with his first ever major show entries. Wonderful story.
https://youtu.be/032FYPscooE

Beautiful recent quilt finishes

These quilts have recently been finished by Fairholme members, but not all made during quarantine. We know there are many more that we haven't even seen photos of yet ...

Lyn made this beauty for our  postponed 2020 Quilt Show.
It is for her daughter, who will treasure it.

It was good to hear at yesterday's Zoom meeting that
Marilyn has been able to deliver her beautiful Storm at Sea
quilt to her son for a big birthday, and a very welcome family
catch up in the Far West.

Just brilliant Marilyn! 

Expertly quilted by Yvette Aoude.

Jenn's 'Aviatrix III', aka the 'Winter Aviatrix'.
Made for a friend’s wedding, which was now years
ago (because you can’t rush these things).

Jenn made a 'Fledgling' playmat/baby quilt for her friends
whose wedding quilt was Aviatrix III (above). She used a wedge
ruler, the colourful offcuts, and a season of 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend'
to get this little one done!

Quarantine quilting (6)

We are still meeting only on Zoom, but as quarantine restrictions ease we are anticipating at least some gathering being possible during July, as our venues put precautions in place. Meanwhile, we keep in touch as we can, and sew on ...

Helen is trialling a bag design with pleats.

... and cats!

Victoria sewed a cloth book during one of our evening group
Zoom meetings - a quicker alternative to a baby quilt.

See the inside pages in Victoria's video.

Lyn's scrappy blue 'Winding Ways' quilt is all finished
and gorgeous. But like many of us, she says the scrap
collection has not reduced at all.

Light bulb moment!

During one of our Zoom meetings, Sue S told us about using a curved felt shape as a template for hand quilting, which has no need for marking. It seemed so logical - why hadn't we thought of it? This video shows Wendi Gratz's method.

New 2021 date for AQC

IntoCraft posted on Facebook and on Instagram on 15 June 2020:

It is with great disappointment that we announce the further reschedule of the 2020 edition of the Australasian Quilt Convention – due to take place in August 2020. 

With no certainty over time frame for review of the ratio for mass gatherings due to government restrictions, we are left with no choice but to reschedule to April 15 to 18, 2021.

• Australasian Quilt Convention website 

New quilts from Sew Miriam

Following the ongoing success of her 2019 'SuperStars' pattern, Miriam's designer skills have been in overdrive during quarantine, with four new quilt tops finished so far, ready for a big quilting session when basting space is available (and she won't be alone there. We've previewed them as the backdrop for our large group Zoom meetings over the last few weeks, as works in progress. Look out for them as patterns and/or classes in the coming months.

• Sew Miriam on Instagram
• Sew Miriam Blog

This one, in Miriam's favourite colour of red is personal
- it is for Miriam's daughter Hannah, who already loves it.

Miriam has been catching up with movies and reading as well
as designing and making quilts - this one is 'Little Women'.
If you have read Louisa May Alcott's book, or have seen any
of the movie versions, you will immediately recognise why.

'Pride and Prejudice', for the Jane Austen fans.

'Rebecca'  (Daphne Du Maurier) is just waiting for a border 
(and some blocks made from the left over narrow strips 
have already been spotted).

Quarantine quilting (5)

We've seen such beautiful hand stitch during our Zoom meetings, and on Instagram, perhaps there will be even more now that we are in winter and less time will be spent in our gardens ...

Janice's pretty, delicate  'Essential Sewing Wrap
is made from Zoe Mayson's pattern ...

... using lovely Liberty fabrics

... with useful  pockets and devices inside.
Just beautiful!

Have you seen cuter Easter chocolate bags
than these made by Louise?

Sue is feeling a great sense of achievement having
finished two hand pieced quilt tops ...

... both started one ago, one in 2011 !

Jill hand pieced the blocks for Jen Kingwell's
'Steam Punk' quilt, and assembled the top
by machine. Choosing the four fabrics from
her stash for each block was fun.

Louise has been following along with an
embroidery project by Sue Spargo

These little designs are about 1 1/4" across!

Lots of new stitches to learn.

An earlier finish by Louise - hand quilting a baby quilt
made in collaboration with her daughter Elle.