Community quilts photo shoot

One recent beautiful autumn morning, our photographer, Sue surprised her neighbours with an impromptu quilt show quilt show, while she caught up wth photographing our current community quilts collection. Her front garden has a high screen just made for hanging quilts on to take pictures. Thank you for your time and expertise Sue.

 

Quilt stacks on chairs (or anywhere) ...

Marilyn's version of  'Little Women' designed by 

Miriam @sewmiriam.

Made by Elaine W

Made by Daphne, from a large donated quilt top
 that was divided to make two.

Made by Elaine W

Made by Lynette, from donated blocks,
 and some from her own stash.

One of two quilts made by Julie from a collection of flannel
fabric donated by Helen. Thi one was quilted by Laura.

The second flannel quilt.

T

Strippy quilt made by Dawn, quilted by Laura.

Skyline Sensation

Skyline Sensation Quilt (58" x 70") designed by Larene Smith of The Quilted Button.

The almost completed quilt top was donated through a friend of one of our members, who sadly died suddenly before it was finished.  Julie added the final borders, and it was quilted by Laura. The feature fabric is Skylines New York, a large panel with a 29 1/2" repeat, from Hoffman Fabrics' digital-print collection. The pattern is available as a free download from Hoffman at:

https://hoffmancaliforniafabrics.net/patterns/files/Skyline-Sensation-Instructions_web.pdf

We thought the autumn foliage complemented it beautifully, and the traffic on the busy road just a few metres behind the fence absented itself just long enough for the photos.

📷  Sue Crowe

Show and tell: recent community quilts 1

Nerida’s second version of Bonnie Hunter’s
‘Wonky Courthouse Steps’

Yvette broke into her 1930s reproduction stash
and made snowballs.

Lynette used a collection of 2” strips

Miriam found a collection of graphic panels on sale ...

... and Dawn cut and re-sewed them for children’s quilts.

Lynette puts classic, simple patchwork together very well.

Show and tell - meditative stitching

Helen has been exploring the Stitch Meditation Process created by Liz Kettle. You can find Liz Kettle on Instagram @lizkettle, or at the Stitch Meditation private Facebook group, or via her website, Textile Evolution. 

The introduction to the Facebook group begins

'... Stitch Meditation is a process developed by Liz Kettle to help develop a creative mindfulness practice that is simple and easy to implement ... This group is for those who choose to explore how to meditate with stitch, to share your practice with others, to inspire others and as accountability for yourself ...'

An introductory video is available via the facebook group, the website or here.

Helen begins her stitching session with a 'kit' of 'bits and pieces' she has in her stash, as recommended by the group, and finds it a useful, stress free way of meditating via stitching. She recently shared some small pieces she has made, not knowing how or if they they might be put together, or if anything further at all will be done with or to them. The background that they are laying on is a beautiful piece f blue linen that  happened to be in Helen's stash. Each piece is about 4" x 4". 

From Japan ...

An excellent read, with beautiful photographs, and an amazing video to engage your interest in textiles, quilting arts and the wonders of Japan (thank you Miriam for both links), as we spend more time indoors as the days draw in ...

 

Zumo Museum of Quilt Art

An Okan Arts blog post by guest blogger Alice Gordenkerabout. Izumi Museum of Quilt Art, including beautiful photos. 

  

My work takes me to wonderful off-the-beaten-path locations in Japan, which is how I first came to visit Japan’s only museum dedicated to quilting ...’

How was it made? Japanese hikihaku obi

A video from the V & A archives (what treasures are there!), on the ancient and disappearing weaving art of making heirloom obi (kimono sashes) with gold, silver, mother of pearl and lapis threads. 

  

Nishijin-ori textiles are known for their exquisite detail, and have been made in the Nishijin area of Kyoto, Japan for over 1,200 years. Follow the intricate process involved in creating obi (the sash worn with traditional Japanese clothing), using a specialised technique called hikihaku – weaving with precious metallic thread. 

From the making of the thread itself, to the weaving on the loom, watch as three obi are made in the workshops of Kondaya Genbei – one from silver foil, one from mother of pearl, and one from the semi-precious stone, lapis lazuli ...

Show and tell

Roslyn’s table runner is cleverly reversible
 - this side is for children’s dinner!

Julie’s completed version of Cherry Pie Design’s
‘Bubble and Squeak’ - hand pieced, and quilted by Laura.
Julie thought all those little circles would take much longer!

Julie made a dozen little owls, eight have been gifted and
claimed already. These are for our next craft stall,
should they get so far ...

Nerida made this beautiful wedding quilt in the wedding
colours. They happen to be favourites of hers too.

When Robyn  is not quilting, she turns her hand to other crafts
with equal skill. This blanket looks so warm and inviting.
She recently handed over another beautiful crochet blanket
and several beanies to Roslyn for our next craft stall (should
they too get so far ...) - thank you Robyn!

Lyn’s quilts

Lyn is a long standing member of Fairholme, a skilled quilter and generous in helping others develop their skills. She does tend to bring in a quilt for show and tell that we have not previously seen, and it is always a lovely surprise to see what she has been quietly making. She’s been slowed down a bit by recent surgery, but only a bit - she’s actually been very productive during the months our meetings have been interrupted, and during her own recovery.

‘Something pretty and pink’ was requested for Lyn’s brother’s
first great grandchild’s baby quilt

Lyn doesn’t hesitate to learn a new technique and to
continually refine her skills. this quilt is the end-product
of an online class on using rulers for quilting on a
domestic sewing machine.

The reverse.

Indigenous prints collected over many years are beautifully
highlighted by this ‘shadow box’ design.